Prosecutors in Chicago have charged R&B singer R Kelly with 11 new sex-related counts including some that carry a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison.
Cook County prosecutors reportedly filed the new charges against Kelly on Thursday.
Among the new charges are four counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault, two counts of criminal sexual assault by force, two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse and three counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse against a victim between the ages of 13 to 16.
#BREAKING: Cook County prosecutors filed a new series of sex assault charges against R. Kelly, adding 11 felony counts against the singer, including charges that carry a potential sentence of up to 30 years in prison, the most serious he has faced yet. https://t.co/ehDcTd0fhB
— Chicago Sun-Times (@Suntimes) May 30, 2019
The charges apparently relate to a single victim.
The four aggravated criminal sexual assault counts carry maximum terms of 30 years in prison.
Kelly was already facing 10 counts of aggravated sexual abuse involving four women years ago, three of whom were minors when the alleged abuse occurred.
Kelly is due in court to hear the new charges next Thursday.
Steve Greenberg, Kelly’s lawyer, told The Associated Press the 11 sex-related counts “are not really new”.
“They are the same conduct, just charged differently,” Mr Greenberg said. “Same alleged victim, same timeframe, same facts.”
Mr Greenberg has long said Kelly expected to prevail at trial and in his comments on Thursday, he said he expects the “same results”.
Kelly pleaded not guilty to the original charges and denied any wrongdoing after his February arrest.
He has been free on bail since February 25.