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Fox News has reached out to the victim's family and the Brazosport Independent School District. Cedar Park Police ChiefSean Mannix released the following statement on Wednesday: "I respect todays ruling by the Court of Criminal Appeals granting Greg Kelleys application for relief. WebA onetime Texas high school football star, who was sentenced to 25 years behind bars without the possibility of parole for sexually assaulting a child, could soon get a new trial. Legal Statement. }); WebThe story of Gregory Kelley, a high-school football star from Leander, Texas, who was wrongly accused of child molestation is the subject of a new Showtime Sports documentary ga('ads.send', { Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. eventAction: 'click_ads' Aaron Singleton, 15, was a member of the marching band and junior-varsity football team at Joshua High School in north-central Texas, according to ABC affiliate WFAA in Dallas. McCarty, a booster of the Leander Lions football team, had been allowing Kelley, a friend and classmate of McCartys son Johnathan, to stay at their home in nearby Cedar Park after his mother was hospitalized with a brain tumor. Authorities have said they used deodorant bottles, cardboard rods, flashlights, soda bottles, pipes, and baseball bats to sodomize their younger teammates. RELATED:Sheriff: California mother connected to 'horrific' child abuse case in San Antonio. The Joshua Independent School District did not immediately respond to ABC News' requests for comment. Dickerson told Tulsa police that he accidentally smothered his infant daughter while sleeping next to her on the couch on Jan. 10, according to the news station. The revelations surrounding Johnathan left Kelley dumbfounded. Market data provided by Factset. About six months after the scandal broke, Michelle and her family moved out of town. Legal Statement. Escape to Long Beach, Washington before the summer crowds, 10 beach essentials to pack for a spring break vacation, You can still overpack the smaller Monos check-in suitcase. In addition to the criminal cases, two families filed civil lawsuits against the school district, including one in Jan. 2018 that claimed a teenage basketball player was raped more than 30 times in just five months at teammates homes, during basketball practice, in the La Vernia High School locker room, in a shower at the school, at other schools gyms, and elsewhere. }); "Allegedly there were two that lured him outside that were supposed to be his friends. Gaebri is a one-in-ten billion type of girl. Doctors discovered he had a blood clot and swelling in his brain, his family added. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? Kondelis began filming Kelley at the end of April 2017. Another civil lawsuit in April 2017 claimed that schools coaches sanctioned these rituals and turned a blind eye toward the abuse. The two cases have since been consolidated, and they are set to go to trial against the school district in February 2020. window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('impressionViewable', function(event) { Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. filed civil lawsuits against the school district, superintendent of Robstown Independent School District. }); Roberts indictment alleges that in five different instances he used his finger to assault four different boys between Nov. 2016 and Feb. 2017. WebShowtime announced an upcoming five-part documentary series focusing on the sexual assault conviction of Texas high school football player Greg Kelley. Get hyperlocal forecasts, radar and weather alerts. Hampton also accused Cummings and the Cedar Park police department of negligence. Greg Kelley may soon get a new trial after his sexual-assault conviction. Louis Casiano is a reporter for Fox News Digital. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. "When Coach Strauss made his way through the locker room, he confronted the two and asked why the lights were off. Updates for the victims and their families were rare. However, investigators noticed several bruises on the child but couldn't tell whether those bruises caused her death, Tulsa World reported. Its typical for La Vernia, Michelle said in 2017, to sweep it all under the rug.. Born to a drug-addicted mother, Dixon moved in with Ken and Peri Jones at the age of 12 and became a standout football player and straight-A student at Pepperell High School. document.querySelector("#ads").addEventListener('click',function(){ }) Hamptons writ of habeas corpus contained a bunch of new potentially exonerating evidence that was not presented at trial, including: that Kelley was not living at the house and helping his brother move when the alleged assaults took place; that Johnathan owned the SpongeBob Squarepants pajamas; that Johnathans bedroom contained the couch, crib and trophies; that a cache of child pornography was found on both Johnathans cell phone and computer; that four women had accused Johnathan of drugging and raping them while Kelley was behind bars; and that two witnesses heard Johnathan confessing to sexually assaulting the boy. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. hitType: 'event', Cassondra Singleton, Aaron Singleton's mother, did not immediately respond to ABC News' requests for additional comment today. I kept working hard, kept playing, and knew I wanted to go to college to provide for my Mom and Dad. Theres so much corruption and drama there.. The 16-year-old suffered multiple injuries, including multiple skull fractures and a broken clavicle after he was lured out and beaten, Fox affiliate KRIV-TV reported. gads_event = event; RELATED STORY | Greg Kelley released from Williamson Co. jail on bond. ga('ads.send', { All four of the men who were indicted have consistently denied their involvement in the case. His case was featured on Oprah Winfreys show. WebHouston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson has been accused of civil or sexual assault by seven women, according to lawsuits filed this week in Harris County, Texas. Rockwall Heath High School head football coach John Harrell is being accused of requiring his players to perform the rigorous task. Im only gonna speak to what we found, and we found that Patricia has represented the McCarty family and all of Shamas boys in the pastand some of them were on sexual indecency cases. The appeals were dismissed. Students at the stadium also released balloons into the sky, and a member of the junior-varsity football team took the field holding Aaron Singleton's jersey, number 33. }); }); "Unexpectedly, Coach Strauss entered the locker room, interrupting Gordon's ongoing sexual assault of John Doe 7046," attorneys said in the lawsuit. Kelley was released on bond on August 22, 2017; that December, a judge recommended Kelleys conviction be overturned due to actual innocence. He had been recruited by multiple colleges and was working his head off to be eligible for the scholarships that these colleges provided. Throughout the course of the case, Kelley maintained his innocence, while his supporters comprising his family, friends and the community that knew him, stood by him. Three suspects charged in the Dec. 3 incident were on the same Brazoswood High School football team as the alleged victim, his family members told the news outlet. All rights reserved. Court documents obtained by KTRK-TV said one of the 17-year-old's punched the alleged victim in the face after he was lured by the two teens. According to a report by CBS Austin, the filed lawsuit claimed that former Cedar Park Police Detective Christopher Dailey and former Cedar Park Chief Sean Mannix committed numerous acts and knowing omissions which led to wrongful conviction and imprisonment of Kelley. Kelley also learned his initial attorney, Patricia Cummings, had strange ties to the McCarty familyincluding defending one of Johnathans half-brothers of sex crimes. However, in a horrible twist of fate, in early 2013, a 4-year-old boy came forward alleging that Greg had sexually abused him. Both young boys testified in a separate room via closed-circuit television. Unlike most people that live in Leander, he didn't grow up with money. In issuing the majority opinion Monday, Chief Justice Norman Fletcher said that Dixon should have been punished only for the lesser crime, statutory rape, a misdemeanor. Tiffany Strauss Gordon is accused of sexually abusing six teenagers decades ago. "These guys think they own these girls after they break up; they get to tell her who she can and cant date after that, and they get mad about it," he told the news outlet. Kelley initially was accused of sexual assaulting two young boys in 2013, at the age of 18, at the day care center run by a friends family. eventAction: 'click_image_ads' Make no mistake, I have heard the criticisms surrounding this case and taken actions to address them. 2022 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Leander, Texas prides itself on its proficiency in football and Leander High School for that matter had one of the best teams in the state for a few decades. The judge is expected in coming days to make a decision regarding whether she thinks Kelley deserves another trial, in which he could potentially be released on bond. Gordon made excuses claiming they were closing up and leaving. football team member -- who passed away on Ex-Dietrich High School students John R.K. Howard, 18, and Tanner Ward, 17, who played for the school football team last year, were charged by the state attorney general's office with felony This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Over the course of the trial, several clues appeared to point to another suspect: Johnathan McCarty, who bore a striking resemblance to Greg Kelley. In 2012, when he had been in the middle of a stellar season, his father had suffered a stroke, while his mother was in the hospital recuperating from a brain tumor. At present, I am not in condition to be the effective leader this district needs and deserves. Dickerson is being held in Tarrant County Jail as of Thursday afternoon awaiting extradition to Tulsa. On another occasion, he allegedly used a flashlight. if(document.querySelector("#google_image_div")){ He would want to be that hero to others.". I dont know another girl that would stick by a man going through this.. SCOTT PETERSON'S LAWYER CLAIMS NEW EVIDENCE WILL EXONERATE CONVICTED KILLER. I had a lot of questions, says Kondelis. } October 3, 2022 / 6:00 PM He was one of the best players beloved by fans and the coaches alike and had joined the varsity team in 2010. He was like my younger brother, but man, its like I didnt know this guy at all, says Kelley. The rape scandal rocked La Vernia, a lush, green town just 30 miles southeast of San Antonio, spackled with farms, historical markers, donut shops, and about a dozen churches. Former Superintendent Jose Moreno was heavily criticized for his handling of the alleged crimes and resigned in Nov. 2017, taking a job soon afterward as superintendent of Robstown Independent School District. A spokeswoman for Cook Childrens Health Care System told ABC News today she could confirm that 15-year-old Aaron Singleton arrived at a hospital in the system on Thursday, Nov. 3, and that he died on Friday, Nov. 4. Kelleys attorneys argued that the investigation by the Cedar Park Police Department was deficient and Kelleys trial attorney had a conflict of interest because she had represented relatives of other possible suspects. On July 16, 2014, Kelley was acquitted of the charges concerning the second boy but found guilty of two counts of super aggravated sexual assault against the first. The Court of Appeals would make the final determination. The June indictments allege that Norman held down a boy in Aug. 2016 and sodomized him with a cardboard rod; that he held down the same boy in September and raped him with a shampoo bottle; and that he held down another boy in November and sodomized him with a CO2 air bottle. Lastly, Weidners indictment lists the same five occasions and instruments of assault as Roberts, involving the same victims, who are identified in the paperwork only as juveniles #119, #97, #39, and #112. His replacement, Trent Lovette, was accused of inappropriately touching a high-school cheerleader at a football game in August, an incident which police are still investigating. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. The NFL is I met with Gregs family and some supporters in April of 2017, and they gave me a lot of information. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. The case drew national attention, with supporters of Dixon -- who is black -- charging he had been overzealously prosecuted because of racial tensions in his north Georgia hometown of Rome. It felt like I died. Having those dreams and wanting to make my family proud was everything for me. ga('ads.send', { Booty Patrol' truck spotted in South Texas, A one-of-a-kind Hill Country rooftop bar will be a cowboy's dream, Kyle to open first Costco Wholesale this March, San Antonio woman shows strength of single moms on 'Naked and Afraid', 5 San Antonio celebrities we'd like as co-hosts of 'Daytime' on FOX 29, We tried the chicken fried steak that (briefly) shut down Mr. Juicy, Massive alligator shocks South Texas locals in Atascosa County, Police: Central Texas high school student sexually assaulted children, shared photos after church. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. WebThe community begins to demand Kelleys release, rallied together by a self-appointed activist, Jake Brydon, who had never met Kelley but believes him to be the epitome of a Johnathan McCarty then became a suspect after police found several pictures of naked children on his phone, associated with child pornography. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), Greg Kelley and Gaebri Anderson embrace in Outcry, I was labeled a monster, and you would see one out of every two people I interacted with on a daily basis talk terrible about me, says Kelley. WebKelley, a high school footballer in Leander, Austin, was sentenced to prison for at least 25 years after he was found guilty of two counts of super aggravated sexual assault against a window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('slotOnload', function(event) { WebThe Trials of Greg Kelley: A High School Football Phenom Wrongly Convicted of Molesting a 4-Year-Old Boy MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE Courtesy of SHOWTIME Greg Kelley was on He had received a full scholarship to play at Vanderbilt University when he was convicted last May. document.querySelector("#google_image_div").addEventListener('click',function(){ In 2014, Kelley, a former Leander High School football player, was convicted and sentenced to 25 years in prison. WebHis replacement, Trent Lovette, was accused of inappropriately touching a high-school cheerleader at a football game in August, an incident which police are still investigating. Judge recommends Greg Kelley's sex assault conviction be overturned, Greg Kelley released from Williamson Co. jail on bond, Checking in with Greg Kelly post-bond release, Greg Kelley, supporters voice frustrations to Cedar Park City Council, Texas Ranger affidavit in conflict with Greg Kelley's statements, Calls for leadership change emerge after Greg Kelley hearing, Lawyers for Greg Kelley expected to present alternative molestation suspect in new hearing, Greg Kelley's hearing focuses on alibi, original investigation, Court hearing rescheduled for 'person of interest' in Greg Kelley case, Greg Kelley Arrives at Williamson Co. Well, kind of, Desperate mountain residents trapped by snow beg for help; We are coming, sheriff says, Hidden, illegal casinos are booming in L.A., with organized crime reaping big profits, Look up: The 32 most spectacular ceilings in Los Angeles. "When you're on a football team together, you're like brothers," teammate Elijah Bols told WFAA. for the Advancement of Colored People, said the case had churned up long-hidden veins of racism that run through Rome. Greg Kelley was on the path to football stardom. he was encouraged to take a 25-year prison sentence instead of taking the risk of getting something longer from the jury, in exchange for waiving his right to appeal. Two weeks later, a second boy came forward with allegations of assault. I didnt know if the CCA, the Court of Criminal Appeals, or anybody else handling my case would do the wrong thing again and send me back. What did Disney actually lose from its Florida battle with DeSantis? WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas Texass Court of Criminal Appeals has overturned Leander resident Greg Kelley's conviction for the sexual assault of a child. He hopes to hear about whether hes made the football team soon. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. } All rights reserved. After a subsequent retrial and a 6-year-long legal battle, during the course of which some new "credible evidence" was found that "a different person may have been involved in the assault", Kelley was completely exonerated of his charges. if(document.querySelector("#adunit")){ In a sharply critical dissenting opinion, Justice Harris Hines argued that by opting for a lesser conviction, the majority chose to override state law and ignore the jurys verdict. Dustin Normans attorney, Alfonso Cabanas, told The Daily Beast in June that the allegations against his client have no merit and have done nothing more than continue to ruin an innocent persons life.. }); Michelle even ran into some of the suspects in the grocery store. Skip to content Awful WebGreg Kelley, a Texas high school football star, was arrested, charged and sentenced for sexually assaulting a 4-year-old boy in 2013. window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('slotRenderEnded', function(event) { Mantenimiento, Restauracin y Remodelacinde Inmuebles Residenciales y Comerciales. Kelley maintained his innocence and pushed for a new trial. or redistributed. The 15-year-old girl involved in the case is suing the school district, charging that officials failed to act after Dixons earlier violations. Our Spectrum News app is the most convenient way to get the stories that matter to you. First published on October 3, 2022 / 6:00 PM. After hearing the tragic news, Joshua High School turned its football stadium blue -- the school's official color -- in Aaron Singleton's honor, video from WFAA showed. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, MEAWW brings you the best content from its global team of In its 4-3 ruling Monday, the high court overturned the aggravated child molestation conviction but let the second conviction stand. pg.acq.push(function() { When a La Vernia police officer told Michelle* that her son, a gifted player on the high-school football team, had been among the victims, she sobbed angrily:. What did they use on my son? she asked. When anyone is throwing that much at you, your first reaction is going to be skepticismwhich I certainly had. Three white high school football players in southern Idaho have been charged in the brutal sexual assault of a disabled teammate, who is black. Trailer homes and pristine mini-mansions alike populate the area, and most drama still takes place under the Friday Night Lights at football games. hitType: 'event', Afterward, several jurors protested, saying they had not intended to impose such a harsh punishment. WebThe Joshua High School community is mourning the loss of 15-year-old Aaron Singleton -- a student, marching band member and J.V. When I got Patricia I thought, OK, were going to get the truth out there and Ill get to go back to playing football. Meanwhile, Ibarras indictment lists the same dates and objects allegedly used to assault the same boys, who are identified in the documents only as juvenile #57 and juvenile #65.. Georgias Supreme Court on Monday reversed the most serious conviction against Marcus Dixon, a high school football star who received a 10-year prison sentence for having sex with an underage girl. hitType: 'event', He has already served the one-year sentence for that charge. WebA Houston -area high school football player is recovering from his injuries after he was allegedly beaten by three teenagers, including at least one teammate. The guilty charge was handed out a year later, although at the trial there was no physical evidence and one of the young victims, who testified via closed circuit TV, denied that Kelley had touched him. In March of 2017, filmmaker Pat Kondelis was at SXSW for a screening of his Showtime documentary Disgraced, about the murder of Baylor mens basketball star Patrick Dennehyand subsequent cover-up by the universitywhen a friend of a friend approached him and said, Hey, you need to look at this Greg Kelley case. Kondelis lived in Williamson County, Texas, where it all took place, but was neck-deep in a CNN series at the time and had missed the coverage. According to authorities, the child alleged that Kelley put his pee-pee in his mouth on two occasions at a daycare operated by Shama McCarty. "The District is committed to ensuring that law enforcement has access to all of the facts and information for their investigation.". A jury convicted him of assaulting a child at an in-home day care, where he lived with another family in order to continue his 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Notifications can be turned off anytime from browser settings. One of defendants was ordered to serve 100 hours of community service, and three others were ordered to serve 200 hours each. At first, it was very hard for me to accept that but as time went on, and the investigation that shouldve happened happened, stones got turned over and evidence came to light that really shouldve come to light in the first place. In lieu of offering up Johnathan as an alternate suspect, Cummings sought to prove that the boys made the whole thing upthereby pitting their words against Kelleys. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. eventAction: 'click_adunit' As his appeal progressed through the court system, Dixon became the focus of national attention. He also has his own business, Tomahawk targets, where he builds ax-throwing supplies and uses his social media platform for promoting his business. I know a couple of the kids involved he actually went to prom with this year. WebTavarreon Dickerson, a 22-year-old former running back at Arlington High School and Tulsa University, was arrested in Arlington on Monday and charged with child abuse murder, }) A jury in Houston found Baylor University and three former football players not responsible for an alleged sexual assault of a former student athlete in 2017. You dont want to know.. As a child, Dixon caught Jones eye because of his athletic ability. Lovette said the past several months of allegations against him have taken a toll on his health, and he went on an indefinite medical leave of absence earlier this week.. The case was brought back to life in May this year after Williamson County District Attorney Shawn Dick claimed that he had been given credible evidence suggesting that the son of the day care facility operator, Jonathan McCarty, may have been involved in the abuse. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), The end result is Outcry, a five-part docuseries that aired last month on Showtime. } Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. eventAction: 'load' eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), He opens up to Marlow Stern about his harrowing ordeal, captured in Showtimes Outcry.. When my Dad had a stroke he couldnt be the provider for our family, so my Mom made enough for us to get by, Kelley tells The Daily Beast. ", Williams said that rather than doing something about the sexual assaults, coaches made jokes about Gordon's behavior calling it "Tiffany's special treatment. But the embattled district has remained mired in scandal, even after Morenos departure. MEAWW is an initialism for Media Entertainment Arts WorldWide. The self-described sports mom lived in La Vernia for years, attending one of the big churches within city limits before the area even acquired an H-E-Bthat typical Texan symbol that town residents claim separates longtime residents from newcomers. Aside from his mother, Rosa, the person who most stood by Kelleys side throughout this harrowing ordeal was his girlfriend Gaebri. Jail, Reopening of Greg Kelley Sex Assault Case Prompts Rally, Williamson County Reopens 2014 Child Molestation Case, California Consumer Limit the Use of My Sensitive Personal Information, California Consumer Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. As The Daily Beast reported two years ago, the case began in March 2017, when 13 La Vernia High School studentsmany of them varsity athletes on the football, baseball, and basketball teamswere arrested in the alleged sexual abuse of at least 10 victims. document.querySelector("#adunit").addEventListener('click',function(){ Please enter valid email address to continue. More plea hearings in the case are scheduled for Oct. 21 and Nov. 26. On August 9, 2013, Kelley was arrested on charges of sexually assaulting a four-year-old boy. eventAction: 'view' Id rather not tell you, the officer allegedly responded. Kelley is a devout Christian and uses his social media platform, where he is pretty active, to discuss his faith. reporters on a platform technologically tailored to meet the needs of the modern reader. Learn More. Four teens each pleaded no contest to the felony charge of unlawful restraint on Friday, reported KENS5-TV, in the years-long sexual-assault and bullying case that victimized at least 10 boys on high-school sports teams in Texas and ripped apart the 1,200-person town. A new five-part docuseries digs into what Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. The dark cloud that has lingered over the small town of La Vernia, Texas, for more than two years may finally be lifting.