Audrain County Prosecuting Attorney Jacob Shellabarger announced Wednesday that John S. Kelly Jr., 43, of Mexico was found guilty of 10 counts relating to child sexual abuse of two victims: statutory rape, child molestation, endangering the welfare of a child after a jury trial in Audrain County. 

The six woman, six-man jury returned a guilty verdict after approximately 90 minutes of deliberations at the courthouse in Mexico, according to a release from Shellabarger. The jury found Kelly Jr. raped and molested one victim from the ages of 9 to 13, and the other victim from 13 to 18. These crimes happened between 2012 and 2019 in Mexico, the release stated. 

The jury also found Kelly Jr. to be a predatory sex offender, finding prior incidents of molestation had occurred with both of the victims. Kelly Jr., who will be sentenced by 12th Judicial Circuit Judge Richard Scheibe on June 9, faces a minimum of two consecutive life sentences and a maximum term of two consecutive life sentences and a total of 129 years. 

Shellabarger and Special Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Scott Fox tried the case April 21-23. 

“John Kelly Jr.’s abuse of these survivors through a family that loved and trusted him caused great damage,” Shellabarger said in the release. “Kelly, Jr., took absolutely no responsibility for his crimes, repeatedly called the survivors liars, and showed no remorse in sexually abusing these girls, and used his position to abuse and harm them to keep them silent.

“John Kelly Jr. divided a family and put both of these young girls in a position where they felt their whole world depended on keeping silent about what John Kelly, Jr. did. Both survivors, now young women, testified to the jury. They retold their decades of abuse, through sometimes graphic and always detailed testimony against him, recounting details children should never have to experience. Most of us can’t imagine the kind of mental and physical pain and pressure that places on children, and how damaging it can be.”

In addition, Shellabarger said, because of a jury’s verdict, “these young women can grow and heal having told the truth about what John Kelly, Jr., did without carrying the crushing burden of secrets and shame this sex offender forced on them. This jury delivered a firm, powerful message that when children are hurt in our community, that our community will hold the guilty accountable, protect the innocent and ensure a fair trial.”

Shellabarger said this case was difficult for jurors to listen to “in that it was evidence of sexual abuse to young children, but I commend them for the focus, attention and resolve in seeing the case through to a just guilty verdict. Justice has come for these survivors.” 

Fox said in the release that this case began because a community supported a victim and that her friends and family encouraged her to come forward.

“When she felt safe and protected, she told them gradually at first, then told more about what happened when she was heard and believed,” Fox said. “She thought no one would believe her – but ordinary folks and professionals alike in our community took her seriously, believed her and reported the abuse.” 

Shellabarger he said wants to “acknowledge the investigation done by the Mexico Public Safety Department, and their continuing support for victims in our community. Public Safety’s investigators took these abuses seriously and found forensic evidence, including the DNA of John Kelly Jr. and one victim supporting the disclosure of sexual abuse. The expert analysis and scientific evidence from the Missouri State Highway Patrol Crime Laboratory proved to be key to the jury holding John Kelly, Jr., accountable.

“Victim care in this case has been provided by our local Victim Advocate, Leigh Thomas, who invested countless hours to making sure justice was done for these girls and young women and that they did not go into the courtroom alone, but surrounded by solid evidence and support. Leigh’s tireless efforts made sure these young women were empowered to tell the truth about their abuse, testify at trial and confront their accuser, and feel the relief of knowing a jury validated the truth of their horrific abuse.”