Now a year-old mother of three with the married name Jerhonda Pace, she tells BuzzFeed News that after the trial, when she was 16, she became one of many women traumatized by a sexual relationship with Kelly. Her detailed and well-documented story of accepting cash settlements from the star in return for signing nondisclosure agreements, which has not been previously reported, illustrates how Kelly has been able to silence young women he has allegedly wronged.
Representatives for Kelly issued a statement early Tuesday morning denying Pace's allegations. Kelly are false, and are being made by individuals known to be dishonest. It is clear these continuing stories are the result of the effort of those with personal agendas who are working in concert to interfere with and damage his career. Kelly again denies any and all wrong doing and is taking appropriate legal action to protect himself from ongoing defamation.
Pace's story is different than previously reported accounts because she was underage when she and Kelly began a sexual relationship. Her parents, and the parents of an year-old aspiring singer from Florida, have all said they have been told there is an ongoing federal investigation into Kelly, but an FBI spokesman declined requests for comment from BuzzFeed News. Kelly was being tried for child pornography.
Pace says she first became a self-described R. If convicted, Kelly could have been sentenced to 15 years in prison. While working at the Chicago Sun-Times, this reporter received the tape anonymously and turned it over to the police; called by Kelly's attorneys to testify, he took the Fifth Amendment rather than revealing sources.
Looking back, Pace says she attended the trial because she was a fan and wanted to know what happened. If she would have come forward, I think it would have made a huge difference.
