Neal pleads guilty to continuous sexual assault
By Robin Aaron
Kelly Jay Neal pled guilty to continuous sexual abuse of a young child on Thursday, March 26 in the 5th District Court in Linden. Neal will serve 25 years for his crimes, which involved two victims, both under the age of 14 at the time of the assaults.
Neal’s charge is a first degree felony carrying a special punishment range of 25-99 years or life. To be convicted under this statute, a defendant has to have committed two or more acts of sexual abuse, occurring at least 30 days apart, according to prosecutor, Assistant District Attorney Courtney Shelton.
Neal’s minimum sentence was part of a plea bargain with the Cass County District Attorney’s office.
“While the State and the victims were more than willing to go forward with a jury trial and seek the maximum punishment allowed by law, a plea agreement avoids the trauma and uncertainty associated with trial,” Shelton said. “By going forward with a plea, Neal is unable to appeal his conviction, and the victims will be able to find some closure. Neal will not be eligible for parole until he has served at least half of his sentence.”
Neal was arrested Sept. 1, 2013. The offenses in question took place between May 1, 2012 and July 2013.
Read the full story in the April 1 midweek edition of the Citizens Journal.
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