DeRo: Not Guilty ≠ Innocent

By Prescott Carlson in News on Jun 14, 2008 3:18PM

Jim DeRogatis has wasted no time getting back on the R. Kelly beat after the R&B star's acquittal yesterday. DeRogatis found himself smack in the middle of Kelly's trial because in 2002 he received and turned over to police a videotape that prosecutors claimed showed Kelly having sex with a 13-year-old girl.

DeRo's current column is a scathing litany of Kelly's past legal trouble, a list of underage girls and women whom DeRogotis claims were "left deeply wounded" by their alleged encounters with Kelly. Among those "voices" he says never were heard in a courtroom are:

The late Aaliyah D. Haughton, Kelly's celebrated 15-year-old protege, whom he illegally married in 1994 shortly after producing the debut album he titled "Age Ain't Nothing But a Number." (The marriage was annulled, and Kelly paid Aaliyah a token sum in a settlement.)

Tiffany Hawkins, who sued Kelly claiming that he began having sex with her when she was 15 after he picked her while visiting her choir class at his alma mater, Kenwood Academy. (Kelly settled the lawsuit for an undisclosed sum.)

Tracy Sampson, a former intern at Epic Records who sued Kelly claiming that she lost her virginity to him at age 17. (Kelly settled the lawsuit for an undisclosed sum.)

Patrice Jones, a Chicago woman who sued Kelly alleging that they began having sex after he met her at the Rock 'n' Roll McDonald's following her high school's senior prom. (Kelly settled the lawsuit for an undisclosed sum.)

And Montina Woods, a legal-age dancer who sued Kelly claiming that he videotaped her without her knowledge while they were having sex. (Kelly settled the lawsuit for an undisclosed sum.)

[S-T]