R. Kelly Back in Court on Porn Charge

CHICAGO, Ill. (R. Kelly Fans Website) - R. Kelly made a brief court appearance Wednesday, saying nothing during a five-minute status hearing in his child pornography case.

Cook County Judge Vincent Michael Gaughan conferred with prosecutors and defense attorney Edward Genson, then set a Sept. 20 court date for discovery.

The judge also opened a package from Warner Bros. of Burbank, Calif., containing a tape of the syndicated "Judge Mathis Show" television program. Gaughan promised to provide prosecutors and defense lawyers with transcripts.
Neither prosecutors nor Genson could explain the tape's relevance after the hearing.

Kelly, 35, whose first name is Robert, was greeted by cheers from more than 100 fans as he left the courthouse. About 50 fans chased Kelly's car for about a block as he drove away.

The Grammy winner was indicted by a Cook County grand jury June 5 on 21 counts of child pornography stemming from a videotape authorities say shows Kelly having sex with an underage girl. Sex with someone under 17 is a crime in Illinois.
Kelly has said he is not the man on the tape.

If convicted, Kelly, who lives in the Chicago suburb Olympia Fields, could be sentenced to 15 years in prison and fined $100,000.