R. Kelly has been released from solitary confinement and is back in the general population.
The R&B singer is feeling at ease among his hometown inmates at the federal prison where he’s being held in Chicago. According to TMZ, Kelly doesn’t anticipate any problems because he feels he’s still considered a “legend” there.
General population is typically considered more dangerous for high-profile clients, but Kelly believes that his fellow prisoners look up to him and wouldn’t harm him despite the serious charges against him.
Kelly still has clout in his hometown, but his name may not hold as much weight if he were to be placed in gen pop in one of the other jurisdictions where he’s facing sex crime charges including New York or Minnesota. Still, Kelly’s lawyer, Steven Greenberg, says security measures are in place to keep his client safe.
Kelly, who is being held without bail, was released from solitary confinement Tuesday after claiming he was being treated unfairly due to his celebrity status and the nature of his alleged crimes. He is now allowed to go outside and be among other inmates if he wants, and has been granted 10 non-attorney visits instead of the previously allowed one.
On Wednesday, a Chicago judge set a trial date for April 27, 2020 in Kelly’s federal case where he is accused of child pornography and obstruction of justice.