Chicago - R&B singer R. Kelly walked into a Chicago courtroom on Monday wearing an orange jail jumpsuit for a hearing in his sexual abuse case after spending the weekend in jail as confidants tried to pay $100 000 to get him released.
An Attorney pleaded not guilty on behalf of the singer, who faces 10 counts of aggravated sexual abuse.
Kelly, one of the best-selling music artists of all time, was arrested late on Friday on cases involving four victims, three of whom were minors. A judge on Saturday set bond at $1m, requiring the Grammy Award-winning singer to pay 10 percent.
At Monday's hearing, Kelly's case was assigned to the judge who would preside over the trial, Cook County Associate Judge Lawrence Flood.
Kelly's attorney has said confidants were making arrangements to pay the $100 000 bail needed to free him as he awaits trial. Among the conditions of release is that Kelly have no contact with females younger than 18.
Defense attorney Steve Greenberg told The Associated Press on Sunday that coordination of the bail payment is complicated. But he said Kelly could be released as early as Monday or Tuesday.
"He has to rely on others acting on his behalf," Greenberg said. "And it's just not that easy - because Kelly's in jail."