R Kelly held in jail after pleading not guilty to sex crime charges
A federal judge has ordered R Kelly to be held in a Chicago jail without bond on sex-related charges.
District Judge Harry Leinenweber handed down the ruling after Kelly was arrested last week and charged in Chicago and New York with sex crimes including having sex with minors and trying to cover it up.
Kelly, wearing an orange jumpsuit and shackled at the ankles, did not speak except to say "yes sir" when the judge asked if he understood the charges.
His attorney, Steve Greenberg, submitted a not guilty plea on the singer's behalf.
Prosecutors argued that Kelly would be an extreme risk if released, especially to minors, and that he might flee.
A judge has decided R Kelly will remain behind bars (AP)
Assistant US attorney Angel Krull said: "If he was attracted in 1999 to middle school girls, he's still attracted to middle school girls.
"It's who the defendant is and that, your honour, makes him a danger today."
He was first arrested on sex charges in 2002 but was acquitted by a Chicago jury in 2008.
Kelly was arrested earlier this year on new state charges brought by Illinois prosecutors.
His arrest last week was on separate federal charges.
Joycelyn Savage and Azriel Clary arrived in court on Tuesday to support Kelly, alongside their attorney Gloria Schmidt, left.
R Kelly's girlfriends Joycelyn Savage, left, and Azriel Clary
Evening Standard
My view: We are waiting to see the evidence against R Kelly, it seems prosecution have serious evidence, as the singer was denied bail.