Report via TMZ -- R. Kelly has been charged with 10 counts by the Cook County State's Attorney.
Prosecutors hit him with 10 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse Friday morning. TMZ has learned 9 of the 10 counts involve alleged victims ranging in age from 13 to 16 years old. One of them is the subject of 4 different counts. There are a total of 4 alleged victims.
According to the complaint, the allegations include oral and vaginal sex with a girl between the ages of 13 and 17. The complaint says he "transmitted his semen onto [the alleged victim's] body for the purpose of Robert Kelly's or [the alleged victim's] sexual gratification or arousal, by the use of force or threat of force."
Sources connected to Kelly tell TMZ the singer plans to voluntarily turn himself in to authorities tonight. Still, prosecutors will reportedly appear before a judge today seeking an arrest warrant for him.
The criminal sexual abuse charge is a class 2 felony in Illinois, and each charge carries a max sentence of 3 to 7 years in prison.
A grand jury had convened about a week ago to investigate the alleged sex tape that Michael Avenatti handed over to authorities. TMZ broke the story ... 2 women testified for the grand jury over the last week, including one who provided physical evidence. We're told as many as a dozen women came forward to testify.
Sources connected to the case tell us the tape was a pivotal force leading to the charges. We're told that Avenatti and his client spent a significant amount of time with the Cook County State's Attorney and the grand jury in the last few weeks.
As we reported, Avenatti says he uncovered the VHS tape during a months-long investigation into allegations his clients made about Kelly having sex with minors. The tape reportedly shows Kelly having sex with a girl who seems to be 14 -- with both Kelly and the girl referring to her genitals and other body parts as being 14 years old.
The charges come directly on the heels of 2 other Kelly accusers coming forward with their attorney Gloria Allred. The women allege sexual misconduct by Kelly in a Baltimore hotel room in 1998 ... when they were both underage teens.
It's still unclear when the new alleged sex tape was shot, but Avenatti said he was sure it fell within the statute of limitations.
The family of Joycelyn Savage, one of Kelly's current girlfriends featured in "Surviving R. Kelly," is anxious to be reunited with her. Their attorney, Gerald Griggs, tells us they are waiting for him to be arrested so they can attempt to make contact with Joycelyn.
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