Artist R. Kelly Found Not Guilty

R. Kelly believes he "can fly," and so he did today after being acquitted by an eight-men-four-women jury in Chicago. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, the 41 years old R and B singer and producer charged with 14 counts of child pornography with a minor was free today. Kelly had been facing a possibility of up to 15 years of jail time if convicted. However, after a very short deliberation, Kelly was found not guilty on all counts.

I am not surprised at this verdict because the key witness never testified and had in fact conflicting information as to whether she had been the girl in the sex tape. Her own family members and close friends were divided as to whether she was the one in the video or not. The whole case seemed to be going no where also when the persecution's key witness Lisa Van Allen was apparently not very convincing even though she testified that she was one of the three performers on the tape.

One of the other reasons for his acquittal was the case of the mole. According to the Sun-Times, a mole appears on R. Kelly's back that is not present on the back of the man on the sex tape. That is a minor detail but it played a big part in the decision ultimately reached by the jurors. Both parties could not convince them beyond reasonable doubt, thus the acquittal.

What is next for R. Kelly is a new song called "Hair Braider" which is out now in stores and an album due for release this July. Kelly should lay low and stop putting himself in situations that will compromise his career as a great singer and musician.

Kelly is a platinum selling artist who has a strong fan base. A lot of them were apparently rejoicing as Kelly and his entourage left the Cook County Courthouse where he had been in trial for weeks.