A federal judge on Thursday rejected a call from prosecutors to keep R. Kelly behind bars until he is 100, instead telling the Grammy Award-winning R&B singer he would serve all but one of his 20 years on child sex convictions simultaneously with a previous racketeering sentence.

Handed down in a courtoom in Kelly香蕉视频直播檚 hometown of Chicago, the sentence means Kelly could make it out of prison alive, when he is about 80. Prosecutors had asked Judge Harry Leinenweber to sentence him to 25 years 香蕉视频直播� and to not let him begin serving those until after he completed the first 30-year sentence, imposed on him last year in New York.

香蕉视频直播淭he nature of this offense is 香蕉视频直播� horrific,香蕉视频直播� Leinenweber said in explaining the 20-year sentence. He noted that Kelly香蕉视频直播檚 sexual abuse victims would suffer from his crimes for the rest of their lives.

At the same time, he accepted defense arguments that Kelly might not even make it to 80, so handing him a consecutive lengthy sentence, rather than allowing him to serve all but one year of it simultaneously, didn香蕉视频直播檛 make much sense.

香蕉视频直播淗e has a life expectancy of not a hell of a lot more,香蕉视频直播� the judge said. 香蕉视频直播淗e is 56 years of age.香蕉视频直播�

Kelly香蕉视频直播檚 defense lawyer celebated the ruling as a victory, and some of the singer香蕉视频直播檚 fans could be heard cheering outside the courtroom.

Kelly remained still, his eyes downcast, as Leinenweber explained what was at times a hard-to-follow sentence. He did seem to show some emotion when a representative read a statement written by 香蕉视频直播淛ane,香蕉视频直播� one of his accusers and a key prosecution witness.

香蕉视频直播淚 was brainwashed by Robert and a sex slave,香蕉视频直播� Jane香蕉视频直播檚 statement said. 香蕉视频直播淚t almost killed me.香蕉视频直播�

Kelly did not make a statement in court prior to the sentencing decision, heeding the advice of his lawyer, Jennifer Bonjean, to stay quiet while they appeal both his Chicago and New York convictions.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 the right outcome,香蕉视频直播� Bonjean said. 香蕉视频直播淭he judge was reasonable. He, I think, took into account both sides and ultimately was fair.香蕉视频直播�

The U.S. Attorney in Chicago, John Lausch, conceded that prosecutors were disappointed Kelly didn香蕉视频直播檛 receive more consecutive prison time. But he added, 香蕉视频直播淭wenty years is a significant sentence, and we are happy that that was imposed in this case.香蕉视频直播�

The judge said at the outset of the hearing that he did not accept the government香蕉视频直播檚 contention that Kelly used fear to woo underage girls for sex, a determination that was important in deciding whether to extend Kelly香蕉视频直播檚 current term sigificantly.

香蕉视频直播淭he (government香蕉视频直播檚) whole theory of grooming, was sort of the opposite of fear of bodily harm,香蕉视频直播� the judge told the court. 香蕉视频直播淚t was the fear of lost love, lost affections (from Kelly)香蕉视频直播�. 香蕉视频直播� It just doesn香蕉视频直播檛 seem to me that it rises to the fear of bodily harm.香蕉视频直播�

Two of Kelly香蕉视频直播檚 accusers asked the judge to punish him harshly.

香蕉视频直播淲hen your virginity is taken by a pedophile at 14 香蕉视频直播� your life is never your own,香蕉视频直播� Jane香蕉视频直播檚 statement read.

Another accuser, who used the pseudonym 香蕉视频直播淣ia,香蕉视频直播� addressed Kelly directly in court. Speaking forcefully as her voice quivered, Nia said Kelly would repeatedly point out her alleged faults while he abused her.

香蕉视频直播淣ow you are here 香蕉视频直播� because there is something wrong with you,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淣o longer will you be able to harm children.香蕉视频直播�

Jurors in Chicago convicted Kelly last year on six of 13 counts: three of producing child porn and three of enticement of minors for sex. Prosecutors did not get a conviction on the marquee charge: that Kelly and his then-business manager successfully rigged his state child pornography trial in 2008.

Kelly rose from poverty in Chicago to become one of the world香蕉视频直播檚 biggest R&B stars. Known for his smash hit 香蕉视频直播淚 Believe I Can Fly香蕉视频直播� and for sex-infused songs such as 香蕉视频直播淏ump n香蕉视频直播� Grind,香蕉视频直播� he sold millions of albums even after allegations about his abuse of girls began circulating publicly in the 1990s.

Prosecutors described Kelly as 香蕉视频直播渁 serial sexual predator香蕉视频直播� who used his fame and wealth to reel in, sexually abuse and then discard star-struck fans.

U.S. Assistant Attorney Jeannice Appenteng urged the judge to keep Kelly in prison 香蕉视频直播渇or the rest of his life.香蕉视频直播�

Kelly香蕉视频直播檚 abuse of children was especially appalling, she said Thursday, because he 香蕉视频直播渕emorialized香蕉视频直播� his abuse by filming victims, including Jane. Appenteng told the court Kelly 香蕉视频直播渦sed Jane as a sex prop, a thing香蕉视频直播� for producing pornographic videos.

But Bonjean has accused prosecutors of offering an 香蕉视频直播渆mbellished narrative香蕉视频直播� to get the judge to join what she called the government香蕉视频直播檚 香蕉视频直播渂loodthirsty campaign to make Kelly a symbol of the #MeToo movement.香蕉视频直播�

The singer has suffered enough, including financially, Bonjean said. She said his worth once approached $1 billion, but that he 香蕉视频直播渋s now destitute.香蕉视频直播�

Given his age and current 30-year sentence, Bonjean said sentencing Kelly to 25 more years would be 香蕉视频直播渙verkill.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淚t is symbolic,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淲hy? Because it is R. Kelly.香蕉视频直播�

Just before Kelly was taken back to detention Thursday, he requested that he not be placed on suicide watch because constant checks by guards 香蕉视频直播渋s in and of itself cruel香蕉视频直播� and 香蕉视频直播渃reates mental health issues,香蕉视频直播� Bonjean said.

香蕉视频直播淗e was expecting this,香蕉视频直播� she told the judge. 香蕉视频直播淢r. Kelly 香蕉视频直播� is not suicidal.香蕉视频直播�

Michael Tarm And Claire Savage, The Associated Press

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