Rhythm and blues singer Ar Kelly, who was sentenced to 30 years in prison for sex crimes in June, will appear in court again this week on similar charges, this time in his hometown of Chicago, AFP reported.

The jury selection process began Monday. 

The 55-year-old performer, whose real name is Robert Sylvester Kelly, was found guilty in New York of running a decades-long "scheme" to sexually exploit young women, including teenage girls, and was sentenced in late June 30 years behind bars.

In court in his hometown of Chicago, AR Carey will face charges of obstruction of justice, production of child pornography and unlawful sexual activity with a minor.

The singer and two of his former associates are accused of thwarting his child pornography case in 2008 by threatening and bribing the victim, who did not testify at the time but is expected to speak this time.

The jury then found Ar Kelly not guilty. 

The other two defendants are his former manager Darrell McDavid and his former employee Milton "June" Brown.

A famous singer goes to prison for sex crimes

The process is expected to last about four weeks.

R. Kelly's attorney, Jennifer Bonjean, has asked the jury to exclude anyone who watched the documentary series "Surviving R. Kelly," which features several of the singer's victims.

The judge denied the request.

Ar Kelly's conviction in New York - the first in a trial in which the majority of civil parties were black women - is seen as a turning point in the #MeToo movement.

YouTube has suspended Ar Kelly's official channels

The testimony exposed Ar Kelly's "scheme" of attracting young women and raping them with the complicity of his entourage.

Many of the victims talked about their meetings with their idol during concerts, after which they were thrown a slip with the singer's coordinates.

Lawsuits against Ar Kelly are also pending in two other states, adds BTA. 

Ar Kelly