R. Kelly denied request to be freed from jail during coronavirus pandemic because ‘he is still a flight risk’
R. KELLY'S request to be freed from jail over fears that he would catch the coronavirus has been denied, as he is still dubbed a "flight risk".
Despite Kelly's fears, the judge confirmed that there are no cases at MCC in , where he is currently serving his sentence.
In new legal documents obtained by , the judge ruled on Tuesday that: "[] is currently in custody because of the risks that he will flee or attempt to obstruct, threaten or intimidate prospective witnesses.
"The defendant has not explained how those risks have changed."
The 53-year-old reportedly filed requests arguing that his age and recent hernia surgery put him at high risk for catching the coronavirus.
However, the judge argued that the singer is "twelve years younger than the cohort of 'older adults' defined by the CDC as at high risk."
Responding to his surgery comments, the judge said: "He does not explain how his surgical history places him at a higher risk of severe illness.
"Moreover, officials in Chicago have advised the government that doctors have completed all treatment for the defendant's recent operation."
reported that Brooklyn federal judge Ann Donnelly wrote: “While I am sympathetic to the defendant’s understandable anxiety about COVID-19, he has not established compelling reasons warranting his release".
The I Believe I Can Fly singer is behind bars after being charged with 10 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse in 2019.
Among the four supposed victims in that case are three who were minors at the time of the alleged abuse.
Most read in US News
The coronavirus death toll in the US stands at 12,291.
The amount of is currently 387,547 in the country.
However, at least 20,395 have recovered from the deadly virus.
Do you have a story for The US Sun team?
Email us at [email protected] or call 212 416 4552.
Like us on Facebook at and follow us from our main Twitter account at .