The R. Kelly fan who sat behind bars for 34 days because she shouted “Free R. Kelly” in front of his jury, was freed Wednesday from the Cook County Jail.
Debra Triplett told Cook County Circuit Court Judge Vincent Gaughan, “I’m sorry for speaking out in your court.” Gaughan accepted her apology but said her outbursts could have prevented the famed R&B megastar, or prosecutors, from having a fair trial. Luckily none of the jurors heard Triplett, he said. She pleaded guilty to contempt and the judge sentenced her to 30 days in jailûûtime servedûûinstead of the maximum of six months. Triplett and her 18-year-old daughter were at the courthouse in May for her son’s hearing. Her husband, Charles, waited outside with their toddler granddaughter and saw Kelly arrive for court. He called his wife to let her know the singer was in court on the 5th floor. The mother and daughter just wanted a glimpse of Kelly. As they got off the elevator, sheriff deputies said Triplett shouted “Free R. Kelly” just as jurors were being escorted off a nearby elevator. The 48-year-old West Side mother of three and grandmother of six was brought in front of the judge, admonished for her outburst and held on $5,000 bond. Her husband was stunned when he heard the news. “When my daughter got downstairs, I asked her where was her mother. She said she was ‘locked up.’ I asked for what and I was told because she said ‘Free R. Kelly,’” Charles Triplett told reporters as he waited for his wife to be released. What was more surprising to the family was how long she was expected to stay and the amount of money they needed to bring Triplett home. “It’s not going to happen. I knew I couldn’t come up with that kind of money,” said the husband, who is a manager at a car wash. “We all knew she would have to stay in there until her next court date.” Charles Triplett said he is surprised that Kelly did not extend a financial hand to his wife’s legal woes. “He could’ve helped out. He got the money. He should have did it out of the goodness of his heart,” he said. Now that his wife is back home, he plans to pamper her. “She wants to go shopping and get her hair done,” the husband said.
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