R. Kelly was ordered held without bond on federal sex-crime charges in Chicago on Tuesday — as prosecutors labeled him “an extreme danger to the community, especially underage girls.’’
Lawyers for the accused pedophile tried arguing that Kelly should be let out on bond while awaiting trial on a 13-count indictment involving charges that include child pornography, enticement of a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity and obstruction of justice.
Kelly also faces racketeering raps in a five-count Brooklyn federal indictment for allegedly setting up a nationwide sex ring.
“How could he flee? He has no money,’’ Kelly’s lawyer, Steven Greenberg, told the Chicago judge in arguing for bond for his client, referring to the R&B star’s alleged drained finances.
“Unlike his most famous song, ‘I Believe I can Fly,’ Mr. Kelly doesn’t like to fly,’’ Greenberg said.
But prosecutors said Kelly is especially dangerous on the outside because he has allegedly bribed and coerced his victims to keep silent.
“He sexually assaulted those girls hundreds of times,’’ Assistant US Attorney Angel Krull said.
“This risk of obstruction is real. This risk is ongoing. This risk is heightened by the defendant’s fame and power.’’
Kelly, dressed in an orange prison jumpsuit, said only, “Yes, sir,’’ when asked by the judge if he understood the charges against him.
His lawyer entered a plea of not guilty for him during the proceeding.
Two of Kelly’s girlfriends, Azriel Clary, 21, and Joycelyn Savage, 23, held hands as they walked into the courthouse to attend the hearing in support of the singer.
One of their dads has accused Kelly of holding the women as “sex slaves,’’ a contention they deny.
An extradition hearing for Kelly to be brought to Brooklyn to face the additional charges will occur sometime on or before Sept. 4, authorities said.
Before his arrest last week on those raps, Kelly had been out on $1 million bond in connection with the Chicago state sex-abuse charges.