"Kelly – interposing a statute-of-limitations defense – thinks he delayed the charges long enough to elude them entirely. The statute says otherwise, so we affirm his conviction," Judge Amy St. Eve wrote in the unanimous ruling.

R. Kelly's attempt to appeal his 20-year sentence on sex crime and child pornography charges has been denied. R. Kelly’s attempt to appeal his 20-year sentence on sex crime and child pornography charges has been denied.

R. Kelly’s hopes of a lighter sentence are just hopes now. A Chicago court has dismissed his appeal to review his 20-year sentence.