New York

Judge Declines to Increase R. Kelly's Bond in Chicago Case

State prosecutors had asked Judge Lawrence Flood to increase bond in light of the federal charges against Kelly

R. Kelly returned to a Chicago courtroom Tuesday as a judge declined to raise bond for his criminal matter in the city in wake of federal indictments against the singer. 

Kelly walked into the courtroom escorted by armed guards. He was wearing an orange jumpsuit and shoes but had no handcuffs. 

State prosecutors had asked Judge Lawrence Flood to increase bond in light of federal charges against Kelly, but Flood ruled Kelly's $1 million bond would stay unless there is a "change in circumstances." If Kelly is released in his federal cases, Flood said he would revisit the matter. 

The state criminal case is expected to continue against Kelly despite federal indictments in multiple states. 

Kelly, whose full name is Robert Sylvester Kelly, faces sexual misconduct charges in Illinois, Minnesota and New York and is currently jailed in Illinois. 

A trial for the R&B star's federal case in Chicago is expected to take place in the spring and attorneys for the singer have been fighting to have him released from jail in the meantime. 

The singer was most recently a no-show for an initial court appearance in a Minnesota case in which he is accused of offering a 17-year-old girl $200 to take off her clothes and dance in 2001. Prosecutor Judith Cole told Judge Jay Quam during Thursday's brief hearing that federal authorities in Illinois were "not willing to give us access to him" until his case there is resolved.

Also in court in Chicago Tuesday, a motion was filed by the woman who posted a $100,000 bond for Kelly. An attorney for Valencia Love asked the court to return the money saying since the bond is "frustrated" by a no-bail order in the federal cases, Love should have her money returned. 

The judge denied the motion saying the terms on the bond slip made it clear she could lose all her money. 

Another hearing for Kelly's case was scheduled for Dec. 4. 

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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