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R. Kelly just got hit with more sex crime charges … this time in Minnesota, where prosecutors say the disgraced singer once paid a teenage girl to have sexual contact with him in his hotel room.
According to prosecutors, the alleged incident went down on July 11, 2001 in Minneapolis … and they say the alleged victim was between the ages of 16 and 17.
Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman says the alleged victim initially approached Kelly seeking an autograph, and claims Kelly paid her $200 to get naked and engage in sex acts with him.
Prosecutors are charging Kelly with two sex crimes … engaging in prostitution with someone under 18, and hiring/offering/agreeing to hire someone for sexual contact.
Freeman says there was no sexual intercourse between Kelly and the alleged victim, but he claims there was “dancing and sexual contact.” He admitted the case will be difficult to prosecute, given that the evidence is almost 20 years old. Prosecutors say the tip came through a Chicago tip line.
The alleged victim is being represented by Gloria Allred.
R. Kelly’s attorney, Steve Greenberg, just weighed in on the new charges … tweeting, “give me a break. This is beyond absurd.”
Kelly is currently in custody in New York, where he’s pled not guilty to 5 federal criminal charges including kidnapping and racketeering. The New York case is separate from Kelly’s 13-count indictment in Illinois federal court, which includes charges of child porn, enticement of a minor and obstruction of justice. Kelly is also fighting 10 charges of aggravated sexual abuse in Cook County, Illinois.