Disgraced R&B star R Kelly has made a desperate plea to be let out of his solitary prison cell, even if it means sharing a room with killers and pedophiles.
The singer is making a plea to a federal judge to be removed from solitary confinement and put in the general population.
Kelly’s lawyer Steven Greenberg filed legal documents claiming the solitary area where the singer is confined is designed for punishment and not for inmates pending trial.
Greenberg argues Kelly has no meaningful interaction with human beings and no time outside in direct sunlight. He has also claimed that his client has no access to media or recreational activities and is allowed only one 15-minute telephone call per month.Furthermore, Greenberg contends that Kelly has no face-to-face visitations that are not recorded, is only able to shower three days a week and cannot buy snacks.
Kelly, real name Robert Sylvester Kelly, was charged earlier this year with 10 counts of aggravated sexual abuse involving four women. Three of his alleged victims were underage minors aged 13 to 16 at the time of the supposed crimes.
Sex crimes involving underage girls are considered particularly heinous inside prison and those convicted can face abuse and even death at the hands of other inmates in the general prison population.
Greenberg claims Kelly is being kept in solitary – an area designated for those convicted of a crime or for rule violations – because of his “celebrity status” and the fact he’s charged with sex crimes involving minors.
He has asked a judge to consider solitary confinement’s impact on Kelly’s physical and mental health.
In July 2019 as reported by The Sauce, R. Kelly is happy to have been put in solitary confinement in jail because he fears someone will try to kill him.
Kelly has pleaded not guilty to all charges but if convicted, could face up to 70 years in jail.