UPDATED 9/3/19, 7:21 p.m. ET: R. Kelly will be moved to general population, TMZ reports. Steven Greenberg, Kelly's attorney, told the publication that "security measures" will be put into place for the singer's safety.
See original story below.
R. Kelly has begged a federal judge to transfer him from solitary confinement to general population. However, the move could be unsafe. The singer could get killed in gen pop since he’s been accused of sex crimes involving underage girls, according to TMZ.
Legal documents from Kelly's team allege that the solitary area where Kelly was sent is made to punish prisoners—not for those who are awaiting trial.
Kelly’s restrictions include no “meaningful interaction” with people, “no time outside getting sunlight,” no media access, and no recreational activities. All his visitations—barring meetings with attorneys—are recorded, and he’s permitted three showers a week and one 15-minute phone call per month.
The list of limitations that Kelly’s lawyer, Steven Greenberg, outlined in the legal docs was longer than that. According to Greenberg, Kelly is being treated as a criminal even though he hasn’t violated any prison rules or been convicted of a crime.
Greenberg has alleged that Kelly is being punished due to his “celebrity status” and the fact that his charges involve minors. The attorney is requesting that the judge examine how solitary is impacting Kelly’s physical and mental health.
In mid-July, it was reported that Kelly preferred solitary confinement—that he felt content there—believing that if he was in general population, his life would be in danger. The singer’s attorney, Nicole Blank Becker, said Kelly is fearful of retaliation from inmates over the accusations which have landed him behind bars. At the time, Kelly knew that solitary would come with limitations, but chose it anyway.
Kelly is facing 18 counts for a slew of serious alleged sexual crimes against 10 victims. In early July, he was arrested outside his Trump Tower apartment in Chicago on a 13-count indictment, which includes charges of child pornography, enticement of a minor, and obstruction of justice.
