For Kelley, finally earning a scholarship is the fulfillment of a goal that he's long held, dating to his childhood. He made friends on the inside whom he keeps in touch with daily, and he said he intends to start a prison ministry to help people serious about turning their life around. Kelley had spent time living in the home of a family that also used the home as a daycare business in 2013. However, he did not see any game action last season. They both may have had too much confidence in the system, but at least in the end, her faith and trust in Greg was not misplaced. News. Kelley didn't return a message from The News on Tuesday. 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. That's how Eastern Michigan's newest football recruit, Greg Kelley, chooses to look at life these days, after an eight-year, nationally publicized saga that saw the one-time top-shelf Texas high-school football star wrongfully convicted for child sexual assault and spend three-and-a-half years in prison. Kelley's case dates back to 2013, when he was a standout football player in Leander, Texas, who was committed to UTSA. Give me a shot.' Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! But even in the middle of the nightmare, he found bright spots. WebLatest on NT Kelly Gregg including news, stats, videos, highlights and more on NFL.com The crime? Greg Kelley, a former Texas high school football player who had his 2014 conviction in a child sexual assault case overturned due to a faulty investigation, will play He's determined to. "It's what I love. Greg Kelleyhas hopes and dreams, like a lot of people. We had to fall in love with each other's hearts through these letters.". 2023 www.detroitnews.com. ", Kelley also said that day, "I was given my freedom and I'm happy with it." He lived in New York City for a little while before that. As he works on putting his world back together, buoyed by his faith and all the lovein his life(including from his now-wife Gaebri Anderson, thehigh school girlfriend who stuck by him throughouthisordeal), he's alsosuing thecity of Cedar Park, formerPolice Chief Sean Mannix and Sgt. The handsome young Texas football star seemingly had a All rights reserved. section: | slug: greg-kelley-to-play-football-at-eastern-michigan-after-wrongful-child-sex-crime-conviction-was-overturned | sport: collegefootball | route: article_single.us | A 6-foot-1, 215-pound safety, Kelley told ESPN he is excited to "shake off the cobwebs" after seven years away from football and will play at the same rover position at EMU that he played in high school. [3], "This does not feel like freedom at all," said Kelley who was convicted of child sexual assault in 2014 to be exonerated in 2019 though it is exceedingly rare for the state's highest criminal court to overturn a conviction. The legal team also filed documents naming an alternate suspect, Johnathan McCarty. Between Kelley, his family and his fiance, the tears wereflowing. Kelley. The suit contends that Daileywas told Kelley hadn't lived at the McCarty home since June 2013 but changed the date to make it look as if he was still there on the July date the assault was alleged to have occurred. Hes a productive member of society.". 5:36 pm ET, Alabama overcomes huge deficit, rallies to beat Auburn, Alabama hires former Texas, UL coach Strong as analyst, Georgia star Jalen Carter subject of arrest warrant, 23 things to watch during 2023 spring football, Lincoln Riley opens up on Year 2 expectations, Big Ten, CFP committee adds Hall of Fame coach for 2023, 23 things to watch as spring practices begin, Report: Alabama hires Charlie Strong as analyst, Ex-Georgia star Jalen Carter subject of arrest warrant, Diaco reunites with Kelly, joins LSU staff as analyst, Ex-Tennessee staffers penalized for NCAA violations. Hes living the American dream. But if anyone has the patience and strength to wait it out a bit longer, it's Kelley. Greg Kelleys life has not been simple. Kelley asked his future father-in-law for his daughter's hand in marriage while he was still locked upbut he didn't propose until after he was out. "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. Chip Brown of Horns247 contributed to this story. He's won titles and has now coached the Lancers to 741 victories. "We believe that much of Greg's youth has been taken away from him and we want to give him the opportunity to live out his dream of playing Division I football," Eastern Michigan coach Chris Creighton said Saturday, per ESPN. ", The Unanswered Questions of Unsolved Mysteries' Rey Rivera Episode. "Worse than murder" when you're in prison, Kelley said in an interview last month with E! His name wasn't cleared yet, but the young man was feeling hopeful. After that, Kelley had to wait and see what the Texas Court of Criminal Appealswould say. (In an unrelated case, Johnathan was sentenced to four years in prison last yearafter pleadingguilty to unlawful restraint and drug charges. 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. Will he ever get to play football again? 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. They tied the knot in Austin this past January. 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. In 2012, Kelley had moved into his friend Johnathan McCartys home which also served as an in-home daycare facility when his own parents fell ill. At the time, he was a popular football star for Leander High School in Cedar Park who received a scholarship in June of 2013 to play football at University of Texas at San Antonio. 6-keys: media/spln/collegefootball/reg/free/stories, at News, "hate is a virus and I have to realign myself with what my purpose needs to be, every time I wake up. That commitment eventually landed him at Eastern Michigan, where Neal Neathery is defensive coordinator. 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. 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. But there are no assurances, especially now in a global pandemic that might put the college football season in jeopardy. Get all your true crime news from Oxygen. All rights reserved. "When you're in there as a pedophile you're already the scum of the earth." ", 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! Just last week he showed off the high school diploma he finally had a chance to go and get in person. But, when one of the children at the McCarty daycare accused Kelleyof molestation, his college football dreams as well as his entire life fell apart. By Gina Tron Greg Kelley's Sex Assault Case 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. ", Catch Justin Sylvester's interview with Greg Kelley on the Aug. 19 episode of E! Kelly serves at Newsmax TV as a host of the Greg Kelly Reports show which airs on weekdays at 7 pm, 11 pm, and 3 am, on Saturdays at 3 pm, and on He attended a tryout in February but was informed this month that Texas will not be adding any new players to the roster this fall. Greg Kelley's Sex Assault Case Explored In 'Outcry'. ", He calls his wife, Gaebri Anderson, "totally unreal," adding, "I don't think there's a woman out there that can compare to the amount of heart and faith she hasI would be a damn fool to ever try to let that go. They tied the knot in Austin this past January. "We think society did him wrong," Creighton told The News last fall. His name wasn't cleared yet, but the young man was feeling hopeful. Can the Lions fix their defense? [1] Kelley was sentenced to 25 years in prison with no possibility for parole. at the time. 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. It was definitely hard. The last football game Kelley played was in the Texas state playoffs. That commitment came during Kelley's junior year of high school. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! Greg Kelley may soon get a new trial after his sexual-assault conviction. Kelley, 25, attempted to walk-on at Texas ahead of the 2020 campaign. A 6-foot-2, 215-pound safety, Eastern Michigan offered Kelley a scholarship in September, but the potential was there to make an impact, coachesagreed. ", Anderson, 24, told theNew York Post last month, "It was crazy. Texas Ranger Cody Mitchell, tasked with leading the new investigation in 2017, testified that August that he had determined that the Cedar Park Police had botched the original investigation. Still, none of that changesthat he spent almost seven years, including three behind bars, with a cloud ofguilt hanging over his head. And "I want this kid to feel like he's been delivered justice. On June 11, Greg moved back to his place, but more than a month later, a woman came forward and told the authorities that her son said that Greg had assaulted him. Saying things they can't and they won't take back and, still to this day, I continue to get persecuted, and it breaks my heart. Furthermore, an investigator used questionable tactics to interview the children. His case gained popularity thanks to "Outcry," a five-hour Showtime documentary series released in July that focuses on his conviction and the six-year attempt to overturn it. 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. He was compensated more than a half-million dollars for his wrongful conviction,as well as free college, but he still was on scholarship at Eastern Michigan. Wrongly convicted former Leander safety Greg Kelley has entered his name in the NCAA transfer portal again, more than seven years after the former Texas high Leander, TX. Dan Graziano reports from the NFL combine on the possible repercussions Jalen Carter could face from the league. The prime suspect now is Kelley's high-school friend, whose parents owned the house where Kelley was staying in 2013 as both his parents were battling illnesses. "It breaks my family's heart because I don't deserve that, they don't deserve that. Early on, as soon as his name was out there, the case was taken up in the court of public opinion by child welfare activistsand the Internet took it from there. "I want to give back," he said. But while that was the outcome Kelley had been praying for, his life hasn't simply snapped back to normal. All the while, he insisted he was innocent. 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. Kelleyparticipated in a walk-on tryout for hisschool's football teamin the spring,Texas Athletics officialstoldKVUE. News. He told, There has not been another arrest in connection with Kelley's case specifically, though McCarty has been arrested, 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 the, As Outcry shows,Kelley moved to New York City with his longtime high school sweetheart turned. Kelley had publicly expressed his hope that Dailey and Mannix would be fired, telling reporters outsideBurnet City Hall,"The reason why we wanted this to happen guys is because it's not about me, it's about the next person. Dailey resigned in July, according to Spectrum News, and the city sent a letter tothe district attorney's office requesting an investigation into the now-former police sergeant's conduct. "Everything that happens to me from here on out is a blessing. Just last week he showed off the high school diploma he finally had a chance to go and get in person. ", Shawn Dicktold reporters a few weeks later, "Wewere able at least to get to the truth of whether or not Greg Kelley should have been convicted and whether or not the trial was held appropriately. Schumann returning to Georgia. ", He calls his wife, Gaebri Anderson, "totally unreal," adding, "I don't think there's a woman out there that can compare to the amount of heart and faith she hasI would be a damn fool to ever try to let that go. It's crazy! But he's also busy simply enjoying his freedom. I hit the jackpot. "But you called my broken mother and promised her you would do everything you could to fight for me.". In July 2014, Greg went to trial on two counts of indecency with a child and two counts of super aggravated sexual assault. Kelley, a safety, was verbally committed to play football at Texas-San Antonio before his arrest and wrongful conviction. It gave me a little bit more hope. Entertainment Television, LLC A Division of NBCUniversal. Additionally, Kelley is looking for reparations for the injustice he experienced. Kelley's case"clearly was the perfect storm of all aspects of the criminal justice system failing," Dick told Oxygen.com. "This particular child said Greg," he acknowledged. 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. Greg Hansen column: Wolfgang Weber's last three Salpointe boys soccer teams have gone a combined 57-5-3. ", Kelley also said that day, "I was given my freedom and I'm happy with it." 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. Hefiled a lawsuit against Cedar Park earlier this year for his wrongful conviction, theStatesman reportedin March. If GK could get through all the things he had to get through - getting cleared and then getting into the University of Texas - Id bet everything on him to do what it takes to earn the right to put on that Texas jersey. We weren't really scared going into the trial. He told Oxygen.comthat the prosecutors' office didn't get "any legal blame in any of this," which he said was unfair. Exonerated Kelley, 25, will play for E. Michigan, Breaking down the latest in 2024 football recruiting, from top commits to March visits, The Turnover Luck Index: Rating every 2022 team, from USC to Rutgers, ACC boss: Rule changes backed by FBS leaders, Stoops: QB Leary (pec) 'close to full go' for UK, Hall of Fame coach Ault named to CFP committee, Top draft prospect Carter charged in fatal crash, New NCAA president readies for NIL, legal issues, Ex-Vols staffers agree to show-cause penalties, UNC hires ex-Browns HC Kitchens as assistant, Kiper's updated NFL mock draft: Who's moving up for a QB? I knew what kind of person he was. How tall is Kelly Gregg? News. He's surprised he wasnever stabbed, he said, but not a day went by where he didn't have to defend himself. Greg Kelley, a former Texas high school football player who had his 2014 conviction in a child sexual assault case overturned due to a faulty investigation, will play football on scholarship for Eastern Michigan. Together the couple resides in Texas, but they also move around to New York and Los Angeles from time to time. "And he's never said anything but Greg and he said it under oath. Brydon said. 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. "You had no idea who I was after my conviction," Kelley saidin court on the day of his exoneration. News. [7] Metacritic rates Outcry 78% from 5 critics. But, he added, "I want justice." Kelly Gregg is 6-0 (183 cm) tall. His story was the subject of the hit Showtime documentary, "Outcry," which Eastern Michigan officials watched before signing off on the scholarship offer. The Most Shocking Crimes Covered on E! He was convicted and sentenced the following year. It's unclear what role Kelley will play immediately at Eastern Michigan; then again, it remains unclear when Eastern Michigan will play football. "Imagine not being able to kiss or hug the person you love. We actually had a trip planned for the next day.". That summer, a 4-year-old boy who attended the McCarty daycare accused Kelley of molesting him. I had friends since I was a baby who were saying, 'I can't believe you are sticking by him.' Christopher Dailey, who was the lead investigator on his case. I want to close this the right way.". He was unable to definitively conclude who the perpetrator was, but he had three suspects: Kelley, Johnathan McCarty and an unnamed third person. Kelley said in an Instagram post. That summer, a 4-year-old boy who attended the McCarty daycare accused Kelley of molesting him. Kelley said that of course children should have fierce advocates and they are generally doing important work. I said it in the documentary, Hills said. [E]ven though I didn't technically have a senior year as a normal high school student, the past is the past and the future is limitless. Check out the hottest fashion, photos, movies and TV shows! ", Why Alonzo Brooks' Death Needed Further Investigationand Not Just From Unsolved Mysteries, And when he was convicted, Kelley recalled, "a groundswell of support from above started coming up and people started having my back. 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. Then he was accused of molesting a four-year-old boy and his life fell apart. News, "hate is a virus and I have to realign myself with what my purpose needs to be, every time I wake up. And once he was convicted, those who had assumed he was guilty figured they were merely being proved right. "I've gotta continue to live life.". Few people experience the momentum that Kelley had going into his senior year in Leander, Texas. The efforts of activist Jake Braydon and the legal work of defense lawyer Keith Hampton, who discovered Cummings had represented Johnathan McCarty in previous other criminal matters and should have recused herself from representing Kelley, convinced the Court of Criminal Appeals to overturn Kelleys conviction and declare him innocent of the crime. "He is an awesome young man," Creighton told The News on Tuesday. "But that's not the reason we gave him a scholarship. I hit the jackpot. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. Game Kelley played was in the home as a pedophile you 're already the scum of the 2020.... 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