A federal judge on Thursday rejected a call from prosecutors to keep R. Kelly behind bars until he is 100, instead telling the Grammy Award-winning R&B singer he would serve all but one of his 20 years on child sex convictions simultaneously with a previous racketeering sentence.

Handed down in a courtoom in KellyB次元官网网址檚 hometown of Chicago, the sentence means Kelly could make it out of prison alive, when he is about 80. Prosecutors had asked Judge Harry Leinenweber to sentence him to 25 years B次元官网网址� and to not let him begin serving those until after he completed the first 30-year sentence, imposed on him last year in New York.

B次元官网网址淭he nature of this offense is B次元官网网址� horrific,B次元官网网址� Leinenweber said in explaining the 20-year sentence. He noted that KellyB次元官网网址檚 sexual abuse victims would suffer from his crimes for the rest of their lives.

At the same time, he accepted defense arguments that Kelly might not even make it to 80, so handing him a consecutive lengthy sentence, rather than allowing him to serve all but one year of it simultaneously, didnB次元官网网址檛 make much sense.

B次元官网网址淗e has a life expectancy of not a hell of a lot more,B次元官网网址� the judge said. B次元官网网址淗e is 56 years of age.B次元官网网址�

KellyB次元官网网址檚 defense lawyer celebated the ruling as a victory, and some of the singerB次元官网网址檚 fans could be heard cheering outside the courtroom.

Kelly remained still, his eyes downcast, as Leinenweber explained what was at times a hard-to-follow sentence. He did seem to show some emotion when a representative read a statement written by B次元官网网址淛ane,B次元官网网址� one of his accusers and a key prosecution witness.

B次元官网网址淚 was brainwashed by Robert and a sex slave,B次元官网网址� JaneB次元官网网址檚 statement said. B次元官网网址淚t almost killed me.B次元官网网址�

Kelly did not make a statement in court prior to the sentencing decision, heeding the advice of his lawyer, Jennifer Bonjean, to stay quiet while they appeal both his Chicago and New York convictions.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 the right outcome,B次元官网网址� Bonjean said. B次元官网网址淭he judge was reasonable. He, I think, took into account both sides and ultimately was fair.B次元官网网址�

The U.S. Attorney in Chicago, John Lausch, conceded that prosecutors were disappointed Kelly didnB次元官网网址檛 receive more consecutive prison time. But he added, B次元官网网址淭wenty years is a significant sentence, and we are happy that that was imposed in this case.B次元官网网址�

The judge said at the outset of the hearing that he did not accept the governmentB次元官网网址檚 contention that Kelly used fear to woo underage girls for sex, a determination that was important in deciding whether to extend KellyB次元官网网址檚 current term sigificantly.

B次元官网网址淭he (governmentB次元官网网址檚) whole theory of grooming, was sort of the opposite of fear of bodily harm,B次元官网网址� the judge told the court. B次元官网网址淚t was the fear of lost love, lost affections (from Kelly)B次元官网网址�. B次元官网网址� It just doesnB次元官网网址檛 seem to me that it rises to the fear of bodily harm.B次元官网网址�

Two of KellyB次元官网网址檚 accusers asked the judge to punish him harshly.

B次元官网网址淲hen your virginity is taken by a pedophile at 14 B次元官网网址� your life is never your own,B次元官网网址� JaneB次元官网网址檚 statement read.

Another accuser, who used the pseudonym B次元官网网址淣ia,B次元官网网址� addressed Kelly directly in court. Speaking forcefully as her voice quivered, Nia said Kelly would repeatedly point out her alleged faults while he abused her.

B次元官网网址淣ow you are here B次元官网网址� because there is something wrong with you,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淣o longer will you be able to harm children.B次元官网网址�

Jurors in Chicago convicted Kelly last year on six of 13 counts: three of producing child porn and three of enticement of minors for sex. Prosecutors did not get a conviction on the marquee charge: that Kelly and his then-business manager successfully rigged his state child pornography trial in 2008.

Kelly rose from poverty in Chicago to become one of the worldB次元官网网址檚 biggest R&B stars. Known for his smash hit B次元官网网址淚 Believe I Can FlyB次元官网网址� and for sex-infused songs such as B次元官网网址淏ump nB次元官网网址� Grind,B次元官网网址� he sold millions of albums even after allegations about his abuse of girls began circulating publicly in the 1990s.

Prosecutors described Kelly as B次元官网网址渁 serial sexual predatorB次元官网网址� who used his fame and wealth to reel in, sexually abuse and then discard star-struck fans.

U.S. Assistant Attorney Jeannice Appenteng urged the judge to keep Kelly in prison B次元官网网址渇or the rest of his life.B次元官网网址�

KellyB次元官网网址檚 abuse of children was especially appalling, she said Thursday, because he B次元官网网址渕emorializedB次元官网网址� his abuse by filming victims, including Jane. Appenteng told the court Kelly B次元官网网址渦sed Jane as a sex prop, a thingB次元官网网址� for producing pornographic videos.

But Bonjean has accused prosecutors of offering an B次元官网网址渆mbellished narrativeB次元官网网址� to get the judge to join what she called the governmentB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址渂loodthirsty campaign to make Kelly a symbol of the #MeToo movement.B次元官网网址�

The singer has suffered enough, including financially, Bonjean said. She said his worth once approached $1 billion, but that he B次元官网网址渋s now destitute.B次元官网网址�

Given his age and current 30-year sentence, Bonjean said sentencing Kelly to 25 more years would be B次元官网网址渙verkill.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚t is symbolic,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淲hy? Because it is R. Kelly.B次元官网网址�

Just before Kelly was taken back to detention Thursday, he requested that he not be placed on suicide watch because constant checks by guards B次元官网网址渋s in and of itself cruelB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址渃reates mental health issues,B次元官网网址� Bonjean said.

B次元官网网址淗e was expecting this,B次元官网网址� she told the judge. B次元官网网址淢r. Kelly B次元官网网址� is not suicidal.B次元官网网址�

Michael Tarm And Claire Savage, The Associated Press

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