American singer R Kelly, best known for his Grammy-winning song I Believe I Can Fly, today denied child pornography charges.
The 35-year-old R&B star was arraigned on charges stemming from a videotape which authorities say shows him having sex with an underage girl.
Outside court in Cook County, Chicago, one of his lawyers insisted the singer was innocent saying: "I haven't seen the tape but I know the FBI has been wrong 100 times in the last year."
Mr Kelly was indicted by a Cook County grand jury last month on 21 counts of child pornography.
If convicted, Mr Kelly, who lives in Chicago, could be sentenced to 15 years in prison and fined $700,000.
He has denied being the man on the tape and the parents of the girl allegedly involved have reportedly said it was not their daughter in the video.
The singer's arrest followed an investigation in which about 50 witnesses were interviewed before determining the tape showed Mr Kelly and an underage girl.
Chicago police and Cook County prosecutors say FBI forensics experts analysed the tape and concluded it was authentic.
They say the video was made in November 1997 or later and that the girl was born in September 1984.
Kelly is known for hits ranging from I Believe I Can Flyto Bump `n' Grind, Feelin' on Yo Bootyand Your Body's Callin.
AFP