R. Kelly Pleads Not Guilty To 11 New Counts Of Sexual Abuse

Among the 11 charges are four aggravated criminal sex assault charges that are Class X felonies.

R. Kelly pleaded not guilty to 11 new counts of sexual abuse on Thursday.

READ: R. Kelly Claims Parents Handed Daughters to Him in Explosive New Interview

According to a report from ABC News:

"Kelly stood with his hands folded in front of him and listened to Judge Lawrence Flood describe the charges to him. When Flood asked if he understood, Kelly, responded, 'Yes, sir.' The Grammy award-winning singer, who has denied any wrongdoing, left without speaking to reporters. A status hearing was scheduled for June 26."

Steve Greenberg, Kelly's defense attorney, said that he didn't know why prosecutors brought on the new charges.

"It's the same case. It's just that they've just changed what they've charged him with," Greenberg said. "It's the same facts...the same bond, the same evidence. We expect the same result."

The 11 new counts are related to aggravated criminal sex assault, criminal sex assault, and aggravated criminal sex abuse. Among the charges are four aggravated criminal sex assault charges that are Class X felonies. A Class X felony is the most serious class of felony in Illinois aside from murder, and carry a mandatory 6-30 years in prison.

Last month came news that Lifetime was making a new follow-up special for its Surviving R. Kelly documentary series.

Titled Surviving R. Kelly: The Impact, the two-hour special will be hosted by Soledad O’Brien and will highlight “the impact the documentary has had on our culture globally, how it has elevated the conversation on sexual violence and what it means to be a survivor.”

Source: ABC News