Florida man sentenced, must register as a sexually violent predator for life
A Florida man convicted of sexually abusing two children over a decade ago was sentenced to 22 ½ to 45 years behind bars, and ordered to register as a sexually violent predator for the rest of his life by a Fayette County judge Tuesday.
In sentencing Scott Kelly, Judge Steve P. Leskinen indicated he departed from the standard sentencing guidelines on some of the charges to impose longer sentences. Leskinen said he based his decision on evidence at trial regarding the number of offenses reported, the length of time over which the offenses occurred and the fact that there were multiple victims.
Leskinen also said he sentenced Kelly, 40, of Orlando, beyond the standard guidelines because the sentences are to be served concurrently rather than consecutively.
In October, a jury convicted Kelly of three counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, two counts of aggravated indecent assault, four counts of indecent assault and one count of statutory sexual assault.
Kelly was charged in May 2011 with allegedly abusing a brother and sister — now ages 25 and 27, respectively — at various locations in Uniontown, Connellsville and Markleysburg between 1993 and 1998.
In addition to being sentenced, Kelly had a hearing regarding his status as a sexually violent predator.
Herbert Hays of the Pennsylvania Sexual Offender Assessment Board testified he concluded, based on the ages of the victims, the length of time during which the abuse occurred, and other facts, that Kelly is a sexually violent predator, according to statutory definition.
Kelly will be required to notify authorities of where he lives, works or goes to school, for the rest of his life, at least every three months. He will also be required to submit fingerprints and DNA samples to the state and attend counseling monthly for the rest of his life.
Kelly addressed the court before Leskinen handed down the sentence.
“I’m 40 years old and I’ve never been in trouble in my life,” Kelly said, adding that he lived with other children without incident between the time the abuse occurred and the time he was charged. He also claimed the victim’s testimony at trial was inconsistent.
“I don’t think those inconsistencies undermined the victim’s testimony,” Leskinen said, noting that a jury who heard all the evidence found the testimony credible.
“The verdict in this case was not against the weight of the evidence,” Leskinen said.