Audrain County man sentenced to three life sentences for child sex crimes
Ryan Shiner
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
A Mexico, Missouri, man who was found guilty in April of 10 child sex crimes has been sentenced.
John Sidney Kelly Jr., 43, was sentenced on Monday to three consecutive life sentences for statutory rape, child molestation and other charges.
He was charged in the case with first-degree rape, first-degree child molestation, three counts of endangering the welfare of a child, one count of second-degree statutory rape, fourth-degree child molestation, second-degree rape, statutory sodomy of a person younger than 14 years old and third-degree child molestation.
He abused the victims from 2012-19, a press release from the Audrain County prosecutor’s office says.
“These sentences show the power of victims who are protected, believed and taken seriously,” Audrain County Prosecutor Jacob Shellabarger said in the release. “Audrain County jurors heard the truth of John Kelly Jr.’s horrific abuse of these two strong young women. Although it took a long time, justice arrived. John Kelly will never walk free again to harm another child.”