Cops hold R. Kelly on 21

child pornography charges
CHICAGO — Grammy Award-winning musician R. Kelly was arrested at his home near Orlando, Fla., on Wednesday following the return of a 21-count indictment in Chicago charging the R&B artist with child pornography stemming from a tape in which he allegedly has sexual relations with a teenage girl in his former Chicago home.
Kelly was arrested by police in Davenport, Fla., as he was preparing to leave his house and rent a car to drive back to Chicago, authorities said.
At a news conference Wednesday, Kelly’s attorney Edward Genson expressed outrage over Kelly’s arrest. He called the action “unconscionable” and said he had made arrangements for Kelly, 35, to surrender to authorities in Chicago on Thursday.
“I’ve represented congressmen, I’ve represented judges, I’ve represented people charged in all sorts of offenses, and I’ve never had an agreement like this breached,” he said.
Polk County, Fla., sheriff’s police Sgt. Cassandra Kent said that Kelly would likely be held overnight in the county jail for a court appearance tentatively scheduled for Thursday afternoon.
Kelly issued a statement Wednesday maintaining his innocence.
“Even though I don’t believe any of these charges are warranted, I’m grateful that I will have a chance to establish the truth about me in a court of law,” he said. “I have complete faith in our system of justice, and I am confident that when all the facts come out, people will see that I’m no criminal.”