Updated 21:05
Singer R Kelly is due to appear in court tomorrow after being charged with 10 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse.
The 52-year-old was charged in Illinois this morning.
The charges command sentences of between three and seven years per count - meaning the singer could face up to 70 years in prison if convicted.
They relate to four victims.
Nine of the counts give the victim’s age as between 13 and 16-years-old. They are charges of aggravated criminal sexual abuse based on the victim being under the age of 17 and Mr Kelly being more than five years older than them.
The alleged abuse happened between September 26th 1998 and February 18th 2003.
The singer has faced allegations of abuse over two decades – and in 2009 was acquitted on 14 counts of child pornography.
Fresh claims, contained in the documentary ‘Surviving R Kelly,’ have led to protests across the US as well as the online #MuteRKelly call to boycott his music.
Singer Lady gaga last month pledged to remove her 2013 collaboration with him from streaming services.
Attorney Michael Avenatti, who has said he was hired by women accusing Mr Kelly of sexual abuse, tweeted “it’s over” after the charges were announced.
We will discuss our investigation, new evidence and new developments in the R. Kelly matter at our press conf at 4pm today local time at 800 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL. This will follow the press conf of Kim Foxx.
— Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) February 22, 2019
Illinois prosecutor Kim Foxx, who last month made a plea for any survivors of the alleged abuse to come forward, is due to hold a news conference at 10pm.
Mr Kelly has previously denied any wrongdoing.
