'Sun-Times' Gave Alleged R. Kelly Video To Police

By: Joe Strupp This week's arrest of rhythm-and-blues singer R. Kelly on 21 counts of child pornography would not have occurred without the direct involvement of the Chicago Sun-Times, which provided police with a videotape of Kelly allegedly having sex with a 14-year-old girl, investigators told E&P.

"Without that tape, there is no indictment here, there is no knowledge of the crime," Chicago police spokesman Patrick Camden said Friday. "The current indictment is based on that tape."

Kelly, who was arrested Wednesday in Florida, posted $75,000 bond and was released Thursday. He turned himself in to Chicago police today. The Grammy-award winning singer is best known for the song, "I Believe I Can Fly" from the film Space Jam.

The Sun-Times connection to the case began in February when the paper received a copy of a 26-minute videotape from an anonymous source in the mail, according to reporter Abdon Pallasch. He said the indictment alleges that the tape shows Kelly, a native of Chicago's South Side whose real name is Robert, in sex acts with a 14-year-old girl. Kelly has denied the charges.

"As soon as we got the tape, we called the police. They picked it up and started their investigation," Pallasch told E&P.

Using sources on the South Side, Pallasch said reporters were able to track down what they believed to be the identity of the girl. They contacted her aunt, who visited the newspaper, viewed the tape, and identified the girl as a minor. But the girl herself has said she is not the one shown in the video and is not cooperating in the ongoing investigation.

The Sun-Times began investigating allegations of Kelly's involvement with underage girls as far back as 2000 when reporters picked up tips that the singer may have had numerous sexual encounters with minors.

The investigation culminated in a lengthy story published Dec. 21, 2000, in which Pallasch and reporter Jim Derogatis detailed Kelly's alleged involvement with two 15-year-olds, one of whom sued him for $10 million and reportedly settled out of court for $250,000. The story also alleged Kelly had other affairs with minors and several group sexual encounters with teen girls.

"After that story, we got more sources calling us and more tips," said Pallasch.

Camden would not comment on what future role the newspaper might play in the investigation or whether anyone from the Sun-Times would be called to testify at Kelly's trial.