R. Kelly Pleads Not Guilty in NYC Case, Denied Bail

R. Kelly arrived in New York City on Thursday for his court case on Friday, facing sex trafficking charges. The disgraced Chicago singer remains on trial in his home city, but today he pleaded not guilty to the charges he faces in New York. He was denied bail. In court he was joined by his attorneys Douglas Anton and Steven Greenberg, while his girlfriends Joycelyn Savage and Azriel Clary supported him alongside two other family members. 

Kelly was transported from Chicago to the Metropolitan Correctional Center in NYC on Thursday. Kelly's attorney initially had difficulty contacting the singer Friday morning, but he later showed up in court. He has remained behind bars since his arrest on 18 federal charges last month. 

The New York case accused Kelly of being the head of a criminal enterprise "to recruit women and girls to engage in illegal sexual activity," as well as intentionally exposing a woman to an infectious venereal disease. He was also accused of violating the Mann Act, which prohibits the transportation of women and girls across state lines for the purpose of prostitution or any other immoral purpose.

In the Illinois case, Kelly has been accused of videotaping himself having sex with at least four underage girls. He is currently scheduled to reappear in a Chicago court on Sept. 4 for a status hearing on those same charges.