R. Kelly cleared in child porn case

A Cook County jury in Chicago today (6/13) found R&B star R. Kelly not guilty on all 14 counts filed against him for allegedly making and starring in a sex video with an underage girl.

According to published reports, the jury deliberated for about three hours Thursday (6/12) and through this morning before reaching its verdict. Kelly, 41, was charged with the child-porn-related crimes six years ago.

The case was sparked after a 27-minute videotape was sent anonymously to Jim DeRogatis, a Chicago Sun-Times music critic, in 2002. Prosecutors alleged that the video portrayed Kelly having sex with and urinating on his underage goddaughter.

Kelly's defense focused on the fact that the alleged victim, who is now an adult, denies that she is on the tape. His attorneys also argued that Kelly has a distinctive mole on his back that doesn't appear on the videotape.

Prosecutors brought forward more than a dozen witnesses who claimed the girl in the tape was the alleged victim.