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Update: Kelly Pleads Not Guilty To All 25 Counts
By: WOUB Staff Writer
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UPDATE 2:30 p.m. Athens County Sheriff Pat Kelly pleaded not guilty to corruption charges Monday.
Last month, grand jury indicted Kelly on 25 charges including theft in office, money laundering, perjury, tampering with records and engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity. Twenty-three of those 25 charges are felonies.
Kelly has denied the accusations and said the indictment was an attempt to overturn the election that put him in office.
Kelly was released on a $50,000 personal recognizance bond and ordered to report to the regional jail for booking. Kelly will be fingerprinted, photographed and will have to submit a DNA sample.
He was temporarily represented by attorney by Robert Shostak. A judge is allowing Kelly time to seek a permanent attorney.
He will also have to appear for a contempt of court hearing for failing to respond to Grand Jury subpoena. That hearing along with Kelly’s pretrial hearing is scheduled for Feb. 28th at 1 p.m.
UPDATE 2:00 p.m. A group of sign-holders is standing outside the courthouse in Athens during the press conference, protesting Athens County Sheriff Pat Kelly, who has pleaded not guilty to all 25 counts of his indictment. The indictment was served Jan. 31.
Here’s the photo:
Athens County Sheriff Pat Kelly will face his first court proceeding since being indicted on 25 counts – 23 of them felonies involving public corruption.
Judge Patricia Cosgrove will preside over Kelly’s 1 p.m. arraignment.
The 63-year-old Kelly was indicted January 31 following months of testimony before a grand jury led by Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine.
Kelly is accused of theft in office, money laundering, perjury, tampering with records and engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity.
Kelly has denied the accusations and said the indictment was an attempt to overturn the election that put him in office.
He said following the indictment that he is looking forward to presenting his case in court.
It was not known who will represent Kelly in court.