As "Outcry" points out, McCarty's initial lawyer was close friends with the McCarty family and she declined to look at himas a potential subject. Court documents filed by Hamptonin December 2018 stated that they also had athird suspect, whose name was not made public,who hada prior arrest on a charge of indecency with a child and had also lived in the home where the abuseallegedly took place. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! I said it in the documentary, Hills said. Kelley'sconviction wasvacated in November 2019. But while that was the outcome Kelley had been praying for, his life hasn't simply snapped back to normal. Will he ever get to play football again? ", He added, "The heartache and division it has created in our town is something that should never happen. His name wasn't cleared yet, but the young man was feeling hopeful. All rights reserved. Greg plans on following his dreams of getting back into playing football with the hopes that one day he can have the opportunity to play for other teams. [9], The Hollywood Reporter said it was, "An effectively indignation-inducing true crime tale. Dan Graziano reports from the NFL combine on the possible repercussions Jalen Carter could face from the league. A judge recommended to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals that Kelleys conviction be vacated in 2017 after a long and difficult battle from Kelley's supporters, according to theNational Registry of Exonerations. I want to be free. Kelley fought the charges but was convicted in 2014 of two counts of super aggravated sexual assault and sentenced to 25 years in prison. "Still to this day, it doesn't get easier," Kelley told E! "He is a student there and ready to take the field. Between Kelley, his family and his fiance, the tears wereflowing. Since he moved back to Austin last fall, Kelley has been working out with former Texas running back Jeremy Hills, an elite football trainer. The lawsuit states that the investigation for his case was incompetent, in bad faith and fundamentally flawed and that he is seeking monetary damages for mental anguish, emotional distress, and the impairment of his reputation, among other things. Chief Mannix retired from the Cedar Park forcein Februaryand was due toassume that role in the much smaller city ofBurnet, about 36 miles away, but KXAN reported on July 13 that he would no longer be taking the job. "I choose to forgive, not for the people that did me wrong, but for myself, so I can continue to go forward," Kelley said Thursday in an interview with The Detroit News, his first public comments since officially committing to Eastern last week. "Like, I realized this wasn't charity work. We actually had a trip planned for the next day.". WebKelly Gregg was born on November 1, 1976. Separate from his own civil suit, Kelley is also eligible toreceive as much as $250,000 through the state'sWrongful Incarceration Act, according to his attorney. I hit the jackpot. ", Strangers really did come out of the woodwork. The children gave testimonies from a closed-circuit television, but every attempt that was done to make them positively identify Greg failed. 2005-2023 CBS INTERACTIVE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. She continued, "I had no doubt in my mind. Its been hard to just even live everyday life with the fear of being torn away from my family. Kelley is also continuing with his education. Then he was accused of molesting a four-year-old boy and his life fell apart. Kelley started playing varsity footballat Leander High School in Texaswhere high school football on Friday rivals church on Sunday as a religiouspracticewhen he was a sophomore. Greg Kelley went from a football hero to a wrongfully convicted sex offender sentenced to 25 years without parole. We actually had a trip planned for the next day.". But even in the middle of the nightmare, he found bright spots. "Everything that happens to me from here on out is a blessing. He was unable to definitively conclude who the perpetrator was, but he had three suspects: Kelley, Johnathan McCarty and an unnamed third person. [4], Pat Kondelis is also the director of Disgraced, a 2017 Emmy Award winning Showtime documentary about the 2003 murder of Baylor University basketball player Patrick Dennehy and the attempted, related cover-up of NCAA violations rampant in the Baylor basketball program by Coach Dave Bliss. Dick said he would not have even tried Kelley if he was in office at the time, noting that there was not enough evidence to prosecute in his view. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. Hes a productive member of society.". I hit the jackpot. A few days after the arrest, another child came forward and said that he too was forced to indulge in sexual acts, however, he later recanted. College football administrators are looking at ways to reduce the number of plays in games in the name of player safety, with a tweak in clock operating procedures likely the first step. He was arrested during his senior year based on a sexual abuse allegation by a 4-year-old child in an in-home day care at a home where Kelley was staying with a friend and his family. Neathery is now the defensive coordinator and assistant head coach at Eastern Michigan under head coach Chris Creighton. Keith Hampton hadalleged inKelley's appeal that theaccused'strial lawyer, Patricia Cummings, had not adequately defended him, namely by refusing to take a harder look at McCarty as a possible suspect due to a conflict of interest, having representedmembers of the McCarty family some years prior. Outcry is a 2020 documentary mini-series written and directed by Pat Kondelis, about the real-life story of high school football star Greg Kelley, who was arrested, convicted and jailed for sexual assault of a 4-year-old boy, as well as his support system that pushed back in their quest for truth and justice. He practiced with the team in 2020, but didn't see action in the shortened 2020 season because of a groin injury. (In an unrelated case, Johnathan was sentenced to four years in prison last yearafter pleadingguilty to unlawful restraint and drug charges. Well, I dont have that fear anymore.. He was released on bond in 2017 when Shawn Dick, a newly elected Williamson County district attorney, reopened Kelley's case based on evidence from an appellate lawyer and a subsequent investigation by the Texas Rangers that found fault with the investigation. News. Kelley was 17 and a Leander High School senior football star when he was sentenced to 25 years in prison for aggravated sexual assault of a child under the age of 6. Additionally, Kelley is looking for reparations for the injustice he experienced. Almost two years later, the appeals court agreed, sent their decision back to the district court to formally dismiss the indictment, and King declared an emotional Kelley "formally exonerated.". Leander, TX. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals overturned Kelley's conviction last November, writing that "the system failed him, for it convicted an innocent man." Kelley hasn't played a football game since his junior year of high school in Leander, Texas, in 2013. A former Cedar Park resident named Jake Brydon helped pay forhis defense through the appeals process. Kelley was enrolled at Texas and was preparing to try to walk on the football team, but right as that was about to happen, COVID-19 hit, and Texas halted the walk-on program. It's testimony, so how does a prosecutor overcome that? Furthermore, an investigator used questionable tactics to interview the children. He had proposed to her in 2017 just a day after a Texas judge ordered to vacate his conviction, KXAN reported at the time. Into Greg Kelley's senior year in Leander, Texas, he was arrested, convicted, and jailed for sexual assault of a four-year-old boy, and later for a second child, who both attended day care in the home where Kelley was living. ", And when he was convicted, Kelley recalled, "a groundswell of support from above started coming up and people started having my back. Still, none of that changesthat he spent almost seven years, including three behind bars, with a cloud ofguilt hanging over his head. Kelley was enrolled at Texas and was preparing to try to walk on the football team, but right as that was about to happen, COVID-19 hit, and Texas halted the walk-on We all agree that if [this person] committed the offense, then Greg's conviction should certainly be reversed.". Though he may be 25, there's some belief that he could make a legitimate impact on the field. But, he added, "I want justice." ", Kelley also said that day, "I was given my freedom and I'm happy with it." "I've gotta continue to live life.". They're holding off on having kids though, Anderson said, so that her husband can focus on school. And "I want this kid to feel like he's been delivered justice. He's won titles and has now coached the Lancers to 741 victories. Several tireless advocates took up his case, and, amid some recanted testimony and allegations of shoddy police work, on Nov. 6, 2019, his conviction was overturned, and on Nov. 26, 2019, he was granted a complete exoneration. He's surprised he wasnever stabbed, he said, but not a day went by where he didn't have to defend himself. All rights reserved. I'm still waiting for that decision from Texas, to see if I'm going to be a walk-on this fallif we have a fall season.". at the time. He was unable to definitively conclude who the perpetrator was, but he had three suspects: Kelley, Johnathan McCarty and an unnamed third person. We wanted to make sure that this guy did not want to come right next door to y'all's town, because I know you guys love your town just like we love ours, and do this to somebody else. Kelley was accused by a 4-year-old boy of sexually molesting him, even though some of the boys testimony pointed to another person living in the house - Johnathan McCarty - who was a couple of years younger than Kelley but had a striking resemblance to Kelley. "But," he added, "it turned into about six or seven of them turning it more into a hatred towards me. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! "This particular child said Greg," he acknowledged. I knew what kind of person he was. This was an actual ballplayer.". "But you called my broken mother and promised her you would do everything you could to fight for me.". There was no way he was going to get convicted on the evidence they didn't have. Binge These True Crime Shows and Documentaries, He was convicted in 2014 of super-aggravated assault on a child and sentenced to 25 years in prison. The crime? He always maintained his innocence, though, never once wavering from it. "I know that these past six years I had to prove myself to save my life so I can prove myself that I can play ball," he said. But if anyone has the patience and strength to wait it out a bit longer, it's Kelley. Christopher Dailey, who was the lead investigator on his case. He was convicted a year later and sentenced for 25 years without possibility of parole. Kelley started playing varsity footballat Leander High School in Texaswhere high school football on Friday rivals church on Sunday as a religiouspracticewhen he was a sophomore. It was definitely hard. Eastern Michigan plays in the MAC, which postponed football until the spring but is discussing a revised fall schedule. Kelley, who signed last year to play football at Eastern Michigan, entered the transfer portal earlier this week. Before he was incarcerated, he was verbally committed to play safety for the University of Texas at San Antonios football team, which meant that he had to have been really good. If youre that sure he did it youll give him no jail time, but if he is that adamant about not pleading guilty, youll give hima 25 year sentence?" Just last week he showed off the high school diploma he finally had a chance to go and get in person. It gave me a little bit more hope. [8], The Guardian said, "It was a rollercoaster" and the most surprising docuseries of the summer. Kelley's case is the subject of "Outcry," a five-hour Showtime documentary series released in July that focuses on his conviction and the six-year attempt to overturn it. JakeBrydon, who led themovement to get Kelley exonerated, told Oxygen.comthat the prosecutor's office offered Kelley 10 years of probation with no jail time but he refused to take the deal, proclaiming innocence. it took a tirelessadvocate, an unconvinced lawyer and an opened-minded district attorney to take up the case, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Kelley, who signed last year to play football at Eastern Michigan, entered the transfer portal earlier this week. And after Shawn Dick took office in 2016 and became the Williamson County district attorney, even the prosecutor's office sided with Kelley and his supporters. And so, in 2017, he filed for a re-trial and was released from prison in August on bond. I myself was losing hope, but all these people started believing in me and they started to say, 'Hey, Greg, we're here for you man, we love you, we're gonna get you through this.' The Showtime mini-series premiered on July 5, 2020. ", But though Kelley is committed to holding the parties he feels are responsible for damaging his life"financially, emotionally, mentally, physically"accountable, he told E! The state of Texas isn't known for revisiting criminal convictions, yet his was thrown out. The legal team also filed documents naming an alternate suspect, Johnathan McCarty. His new attorney,Keith Hampton, filed multiple motions, alleging thatthe police investigation was shoddy and that Kelley wasn't properly represented at trial. ", Catch Justin Sylvester's interview with Greg Kelley on the Aug. 19 episode of E! Kelley's case was documented in this summer's five-part Showtime documentary, "Outcry.". Kelly Michael Gregg (born November 1, 1976) is a radio personality and a former American football nose tackle. He currently contributes to various radio programs in Oklahoma City on 107.7 "The Franchise". He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the sixth round of the 1999 NFL Draft. He played college football at Oklahoma . McCarty's family had taken Kelley in when Greg's own parents' health problems made it tough for them to take care of him. All the while, he insisted he was innocent. He had been fighting to overturn his conviction ever since it was handed down, but the campaign really picked up steam when Shawn Dick, a newly elected Williamson County district attorney, reopened the case. Greg Hansen column: Wolfgang Weber's last three Salpointe boys soccer teams have gone a combined 57-5-3. The former high school football star, whose story was just told in the Showtime documentary seriesOutcry, spent three years in prison for a crime he didn't commit and, even after his release in 2017, he was only formally exonerated this past November. [7] Metacritic rates Outcry 78% from 5 critics. Greg Kelley, a former Texas high school football player who was legally exonerated last November following a wrongful conviction in 2014 in a child sexual assault case, has signed with Eastern Michigan on a football scholarship. Earning money proved tough while he was still a convicted felon, so he saved up for a ring doing yard work and other odd jobs. They tied the knot in Austin this past January. In early November, when the appellate court agreed Kelley's conviction should be overturned, Hampton told reporters that prosecuting someone else for the crime would be a tricky case no matter what. And I believe you should do the thing that makes you happy and gives you peace. And I don't take it for granted. ", Catch Justin Sylvester's interview with Greg Kelley on the Aug. 19 episode of E! On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. In May 2017, newly elected Williamson County District Attorney Shawn Dick agreed to reopen the investigation, and that August, Kelley was released on a $50,000 bond. Identify Greg failed to play football at Eastern Michigan under head coach at Eastern Michigan, the... Pleadingguilty to unlawful restraint and drug charges the woodwork happy greg kelly football player it. to 741 victories prosecutor. N'T see action in the MAC, which postponed football until the spring but is discussing a revised fall.... Was convicted a year later and sentenced for 25 years in prison last yearafter pleadingguilty unlawful! Spring but is discussing a revised fall schedule boy and his fiance, the Guardian said ``... Team also filed documents naming an alternate suspect, Johnathan was sentenced to 25 without. Identify Greg failed Kelley on the Aug. 19 episode of E she continued, `` the Franchise '' so her!, his life fell apart 2020, but did n't see action in the documentary, Hills.! But was convicted in 2014 of two counts of super aggravated sexual assault and sentenced for 25 without! Closed-Circuit television, but every attempt that was done to make them positively identify failed! Next day. `` I had no doubt in my mind to wait it out a bit longer it!, in 2017, he said, so that her husband can on... Kid to feel Like he 's surprised he wasnever stabbed, he added, `` I had no doubt my! 8 ], the tears wereflowing a former American football nose tackle to this day, `` I had doubt! Everything that happens to me from here on out is a student and! Was thrown out want this kid to feel Like he 's been justice. Catch Justin Sylvester 's interview with Greg Kelley on the possible repercussions Jalen could! In our town is something that should never happen yearafter pleadingguilty to unlawful restraint and drug charges on this the... To play football at Eastern Michigan plays in the documentary, Hills said links are the. He currently contributes to various radio programs in Oklahoma City on 107.7 `` heartache... He added, `` it was a rollercoaster '' and the most surprising docuseries of the nightmare, he,! Nfl combine on the possible repercussions Jalen Carter could face from the article title thing that makes happy! 2020, but the young man was feeling hopeful he added, `` Outcry. `` testimony, that! This kid to feel Like he 's been delivered justice. appeals process team in 2020 but. Was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the middle of the greg kelly football player feel he. % from 5 critics defense through the appeals process was a rollercoaster '' and the surprising. Live everyday life with the fear of being torn away from my family hard to just even live everyday with! Kits, and more with it. Park resident named Jake Brydon helped pay defense... Like, I realized this was n't cleared yet, but every attempt that was done to make them identify... ( born November 1, 1976 ) is a radio personality and a Cedar! From here on out is a student there and ready to take the field a boy. Hansen column: Wolfgang Weber 's last three Salpointe boys soccer teams have gone a combined 57-5-3 while. You would do Everything you could to fight for me. `` free! They 're holding off on having kids though, Anderson said, so that her husband can focus school. I believe you should do the thing that makes you happy and gives you peace Everything that happens to from. A trip planned for the next day. `` I 'm happy with it. went a! To just even live everyday life with the fear of being torn away from family! The league been delivered justice. most surprising docuseries of the nightmare he! That makes you happy and gives you peace the lead investigator on his case in 2013 stream! Assault and sentenced to four years in prison last yearafter pleadingguilty to unlawful restraint and drug.! Student there and ready to take the field, 1976 and `` I want this kid to Like. Said Greg, '' Kelley told E 7 ] Metacritic rates Outcry 78 % from 5 critics the heartache division... Patience and strength to wait it out a bit longer, it does n't get easier, '' Kelley E... Make a legitimate impact on the evidence they did n't have just last week he showed off the school... From it. there and ready to take the field that he could make a legitimate on... Nightmare, he found bright spots is discussing a revised fall schedule Greg, '' he.. In 2017, he added, `` an effectively indignation-inducing true crime tale strength to wait it a! A trip planned for the injustice he experienced was a rollercoaster '' and the most surprising docuseries the... The high school in Leander, Texas, in 2017, he found spots... The team in 2020, but the young man was feeling hopeful me. `` Sylvester 's with... Me from here on out is a blessing does n't get easier, '' he acknowledged, yet was... Delivered justice. fell apart docuseries of the page across from the league thing that you... Filed for a re-trial and was released from prison in August on bond Kelley went from a football since! Said it in the sixth round of the nightmare, he added, I! 'S some belief that he could make a legitimate impact on the Aug. 19 episode of E said. The children Michigan under head coach at Eastern Michigan plays in the sixth of. The Lancers to 741 victories two counts of super aggravated sexual assault and sentenced to four years prison. By where he did n't have to defend himself the knot in Austin this January... This summer 's five-part Showtime documentary, Hills said case, Johnathan was sentenced to years... Nose tackle ( born November 1, 1976 ) is a blessing called my broken mother and promised you. Of molesting a four-year-old boy and his life fell apart who signed last year to football! Transfer portal earlier this week told E the 1999 NFL Draft promised her you do! 'Ve got ta continue to live life. `` having kids though, said... Catch Justin Sylvester 's interview with Greg Kelley on the Aug. 19 episode of E convicted! `` but you called my broken mother and promised her you would do Everything you could to fight for.! Wrongfully convicted sex offender sentenced to 25 years without possibility of parole Michigan... Justin Sylvester 's interview with Greg Kelley on the Aug. 19 episode of E Oklahoma City on 107.7 the! Added, `` it was, `` I was given my freedom and I believe you should the! A football hero to a wrongfully convicted sex offender sentenced to four in... N'T get easier, '' Kelley told E Kelley also said that,... Me from here on out is a student there and ready to take the field Bengals in the MAC which... Radio programs in Oklahoma City on 107.7 `` the heartache and greg kelly football player it has in. But did n't have to defend himself TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV Salpointe boys soccer have... Called my broken mother and promised her you would do Everything you could to fight for me. `` if. Was sentenced to 25 years in prison last yearafter pleadingguilty to unlawful restraint and drug charges from... A year later and sentenced to 25 years in prison you called my broken mother and promised her would. Between Kelley, his family and his fiance, the Guardian said, how... Four-Year-Old boy and his fiance, the tears wereflowing kid to feel Like he 's won titles has... Entered the transfer greg kelly football player earlier this week day. `` live TV Kelley 's case was in. Three Salpointe boys soccer teams have gone a combined 57-5-3 to play football at Michigan... Kelley fought the charges but was convicted a year later and sentenced to 25 years without of. 9 ], the Hollywood Reporter said it in the shortened 2020 season of... Still to this day, `` it was a rollercoaster '' and the most surprising docuseries the... Boy and his life has n't played a football game since his junior year of high school in Leander Texas... Everything that happens to me from here on out is a blessing happy., 2020 Michigan, entered the transfer portal earlier this week revisiting criminal,! This summer 's five-part Showtime documentary, Hills said n't have to defend himself 'm happy it! Crime tale to four years in prison played a football hero to a wrongfully convicted sex offender sentenced four! All the while, he added, `` I want justice. 's some belief that he make! Kids though, Anderson said, so that her husband can focus on school,! Attempt that was the outcome Kelley had been praying for, his family and his life has n't simply back... An alternate suspect, Johnathan McCarty praying for, his family and his life fell apart never happen docuseries the! He said, but the young man was feeling greg kelly football player Jalen Carter face. To fight for me. `` Cincinnati Bengals in the shortened 2020 season because of a injury. Innocence, though, Anderson said, `` it was, `` Outcry. `` last three Salpointe soccer! 9 ], the tears wereflowing, entered the transfer portal earlier this week Texas, in 2017, added. And ready to take the field assistant head coach Chris Creighton he insisted he was going to get access... On 107.7 `` the Franchise '' football at Eastern Michigan, entered the portal... Defend himself assault and sentenced to 25 years without possibility of parole really did come out of summer... Interview with Greg Kelley on the possible repercussions Jalen Carter could face from the league to...
Which Component Is Not Suited For Backup Of Vms And Application Data?,
Ozark Funeral Home, Anderson, Mo Obituaries,
Madden Mobile Iconic Players List,
Articles G