Judge allows singer R. Kelly to make public appearances

? R&B singer R. Kelly, who has been free on bond since he was indicted on child pornography charges, can leave the state to make two public appearances in Florida this weekend, a judge ruled Friday.

But Judge Vincent Michael Gaughan ordered him to surrender his passport and refrain from any illegal contact with minors.

The Grammy-winning singer was silent during the hearing.

Court documents show Kelly, who doesn’t like to fly, planned to leave Chicago by chartered bus Friday and return Wednesday. The singer planned to make an appearance tonight at the Krave nightclub in Miami Beach, Fla., and play host to a “celebrity pool party” Sunday at the Shelborne Resort, the records show.

Kelly, 35, whose first name is Robert, was indicted by a Cook County grand jury June 5 on 21 counts of child pornography stemming from a videotape authorities say shows Kelly having sex with a 13-year-old girl.

Kelly says he’s not the man on the tape.

Friday, defense attorney Edward Genson argued that attending the events was vital to Kelly’s livelihood.

Prosecutors argued that Kelly should not be allowed to stage an event “where young women, possibly underage, are invited to be dressed in swim wear,” according to court documents.