R KELLY: HOW
JUST two weeks before her 15th birthday, Jerhonda Pace finally had the chance to meet her idol.
A few miles away from her Chicago school, superstar R Kelly was set to make a public appearance. For Jerhonda, it was too good an opportunity to miss.
Skipping class, she made her way to the venue to see her idol.
But Kelly was not appearing at a concert hall performing his string of smash hits. Instead, he was taking the spotlight elsewhere – in court.
He was accused of having sex with a different 14-year-old girl
– his goddaughter – and videoing the whole thing.
After Kelly was acquitted of the 2008 charges, Jerhonda became his outspoken defender. But today she is one of the many women celebrating after helping to put the sick R&B star behind bars for the abuse he inflicted on her and many others. She told how he played on her adoration to lure her into his world then manipulated, abused and controlled her.
“I had to call him Daddy and he would call me baby,” she said. “He wanted me to have two pigtails and I had to go out and find little schoolgirl outfits.” On Monday, Kelly was convicted in New York of nine counts of racketeering and violations of the Mann Act, which governs cross-state sex trafficking.
The once multi-millionaire faces 10 years to life in prison for the charges, related to nearly 30 years’ worth of claims of physical and sexual abuse of women and minors of both sexes. He is still to answer federal charges of sexual assault and abuse in Illinois. Having testified against the “predator” who had gone on to abuse her, Jerhonda welcomed the verdict that will prevent him destroying yet more lives.
“Today, my voice was heard,” she wrote
Calling out a rich and famous abuser is not easy
JERHONDA PACE ON REACTION TO CLAIMS
on Instagram. “For years, I was trolled for speaking out about the abuse I suffered at the hands of that predator.
“People called me a liar and said I had no proof. Some even said I was speaking out for money. Speaking out about abuse is not easy, especially when your abuser is high-profile.”
Drea Kelly, who was married to Kelly for 13 years and has three children with him, said his conviction was “a step forward” but it was still far too difficult for abuse victims “to come forward and tell their stories”.
The verdict followed often harrowing testimony from almost 50 witnesses and arrived quickly on the second day of jury deliberations.
They described an elaborate and complex system of abuse enabled by Kelly’s fame and power, supported by an army of loyal associates.
A woman identified as Jane stated she was forced into sexual encounters with women and could not leave rooms without his say-so.
She also said the singer, whose real name is Robert Sylvester Kelly, forced her to have an abortion.
Another woman said Kelly told her he married up-and-coming singer Aaliyah in 1994, when she was 15, so she could legally have an abortion. The marriage was later annulled. A witness named Angela said she saw
Kelly sexually abuse Aaliyah on a tour bus when she was
13. Aaliyah died, aged 22, in a plane crash in
2001. Kelly’s conviction marks a stunning fall for a man who was once one of the biggest selling singers on the planet with hits like Ignition (Remix), Bump N’ Grind and I Believe I Can Fly.
He started singing as an eight-yearold in church before winning $100,000 on a TV talent show.
His first albums – Born Into The 90s and 12 Play – made him a star. In June 2002, Kelly was indicted in Chicago on child pornography
charges over the abuse tape. He pleaded not guilty and was bailed. Seven months later, he was arrested in Florida on more child porn charges.
Charges were dropped after a judge ruled police did not have a warrant.
It took another six years before he stood trial, in which time he abused many more, including Jerhonda.
She was groomed from an early age before being threatened and forced to sign non-disclosure agreements.
Back in 2008, she had lied about her age to sheriffs at the court because under-18s were not allowed to enter.
Kelly had noticed her and did not even wait until the end of his trial before focusing his attentions on her.
“One day, he stopped and said, ‘Thank you for your support’ and said when it was over, he would give me something,” she explained.
“He ended up giving me his autograph and later sent me a friend request on MySpace.”
Jerhonda attended the trial until the end, even watching the video in court,
which showed Kelly inflicting depraved abuse on his victim.
The jury acquitted Kelly of all charges, claiming they couldn’t be sure the female was his goddaughter.
The following year, when Jerhonda was 16, Kelly invited her to a party, telling her to tell everyone she was 19.
Though still at school, she started spending weekends at his mansion.
Kelly’s grip on her tightened, enforcing rules on how she dressed, her phone use and when she could eat, use the bathroom and go out. She claims he slapped her, spat in her face, choked her until she fainted and coached her on what to tell her mum.
Acting US Attorney Jacquelyn Kasulis said Kelly built “a sordid web of abuse, exploitation and degradation”.
She added: “The verdict forever brands R Kelly as a predator who used his fame and fortune to prey on the young, the vulnerable and the voiceless for his own sexual gratification.”