CANTON – The sexual abuse case against
Dutchess County Legislator Michael Kelsey is going to be presented to
a grand jury in St. Lawrence County.
Kelsey, 36, of Pleasant Valley, was arrested last December in connection
with allegations that he inappropriately touched two 15-year-old boys
during a Boy Scout trip to Cranberry Lake in August of last year.
The Republican lawmaker, who was an assistant scoutmaster at the time,
was charged with sexual abuse and two counts of endangering the welfare
of a child.
District Attorney Mary Rain told Channel 7 TV in Watertown that she has
no plans to reduce the felony charges to misdemeanor and will present
the case to the grand jury.
Democratic Poughkeepsie mayoral candidate Kenneth Levinson, meanwhile,
called for Kelsey to step down from his elected post and not seek reelection.
“It’s time to end all corruption in Dutchess County government
and Mr. Kelsey’s continued public service and reelection campaign
pollutes all political races in our district,” Levinson said. “There
is no room for someone like him in Dutchess County government.”
Fishkill Democratic Town Chairman and Dutchess County Democratic Executive
Committee member Kevin McCarthy said Kelsey said leaders on both sides
of the political aisle should “make clear their objections to his
remaining on as a member of the legislature.” He said the case will
become a distraction within the legislature.
