Mexico man pleads guilty to statutory sodomy, sentenced to 30 years in prison

Audrain County Prosecuting Attorney Jacob Shellabarger announced on Wednesday that Travis Kelly pled guilty to statutory sodomy, among other charges.

Between 2014 and 2015, Kelly repeatedly sodomized and abused the then nine-to-eleven-year-old girl. He was accused of forcing her to perform some of the sexual acts.

“When this brave young woman came forward, she was so afraid of what Travis Kelly had done to her, and what he said he would do if she ever told,” Shellabarger said. “Today, Mr. Kelly took responsibility for these years of threatening and forcing this girl to perform for him sexually. Mr. Kelly took advantage of their family relationship and made her feel as if she had done something wrong when only he was responsible for these terrifying acts.”

The victim submitted submitted a statement that read, “[My abuser] is the monster in my nightmares… during these crimes I was forced to act normal when I just wanted someone to see into my eyes that I needed help and to save me but I couldn’t express myself. I would get angry every time I tried to make someone see he was lying and they just all thought he was a good [person] and nothing was wrong[.] No one can understand begging someone to stop hurting you in this way and not being able to get away or make it stop.”

Shellabarger said, “Child sexual abuse is a crime warranting serious charges, aggressive prosecution and harsh sentencing. Those who hurt our most vulnerable must face serious consequences, because our community can not, and will not, tolerate those who harm children.”

Kelly pled guilty to two counts of sodomy in the first degree, two counts of endangering the welfare of a child in the first degree, six counts of statutory sodomy in the first degree and two counts of abuse of a child.

Kelly received a total sentence of 30 years in prison.