R. Kelly Acquitted in Child Pornography Trial

“Try to charge me, but I’m not guilty,” R. Kelly sings in his hit song with Jay-Z, “Guilty Until Proven Innocent.” And that’s exactly what the verdict was in his child pornography trial.

On Friday, a Chicago jury of 12 (nine men, three women) acquitted Kelly on all 14 counts of videotaping himself having sex with an underage girl. If he was convicted, he faced a minimum of four years in prison and a maximum of 15 years. The trial comes to an end six years after the R&B singer was first charged in 2002.

UPDATE: CNN reports that R. Kelly dabbed his face with a handkerchief and hugged each of his four attorneys after the verdict was read. He left the courthouse minutes later without comment. Dozens of fans screamed and cheered as he climbed into a waiting SUV.

thanks(rp)