The Maryland man who raped a 17 year old girl onboard a Carnival cruise ship was a college football star who had a history of sexually assaulting girls.
Jalen Thomas Kelley, 22, was a running back at Wingate University in North Carolina when he was arrested in September 2023 for the minor’s rape, The State reports.
Prosecutors had said he met the 17 year old onboard the Carnival Legend following a New Year’s Eve party earlier that year, and took her back to his cabin when she needed to use the restroom.
When she then stepped outside, Kelley pushed her on the bed ‘face first’ and raped her, prosecutor said in court documents obtained by The State.
‘After raping [her], Kelley asked, “You good?”‘ the federal complaint reads.
At that point, the teenager left his room, and after the ship later returned to a Baltimore port and she and her family returned home to Virginia, the girl reported the rape to her parents and police.
She was later examined at a local hospital, where doctors found she had bruises on her right arm and shins as well as ‘vaginal abrasions, tearing and bruising,’ according to court documents.
But Kelley later denied sexually assaulting the teenager when FBI agents arrived at Wingate to question him about the girl’s claims.
Jalen Thomas Kelley, 22, was a running back at Wingate University in North Carolina when he was arrested in September 2023 for raping a 17-year-old girl on a Carnival cruise ship
As news spread of his arrest, another student claimed Kelley also raped her
Instead, he claimed he and the girl kissed and touched each other outside of his room, before he let her use the bathroom.
Kelley also noted he thought she was under the influence at the time.
‘Kelley saw that [she] was intoxicated (by his own admission), realized she was vulnerable and offered to take her to the bathroom,’ court documents claim.
He ‘took full advantage of the situation,’ prosecutors argued.
They also claimed she was not Kelley’s only victim.
In fact, as news of the college athlete’s on-campus arrest spread, another student spoke up and claimed Kelley also raped her, according to The State.
There was an outstanding warrant for his arrest in connection with that case as of November 2023, but it is unclear whether he was ever arrested in that case.
Still, prosecutors alleged in court documents that ‘Kelley has an alarming history of allegations of sexual assault from males and females spanning from early 2017 through September 2023.’
Kelley was ultimately found guilty of aggravated sexual abuse, sexual abuse and assault with the territorial jurisdiction. He now faces life in prison
Prosecutors said he invited a 17 year old back to his cabin on the Carnival Legend (pictured) following a New Year’s Eve party to let her use the bathroom, after which he pushed her on the bed ‘face first’ and raped her
Over the course of his two-week trial, jurors also heard from six people who accused Kelley of sexually assaulting them on different occasions, as prosecutors noted that he was convicted in 2019 as a minor in a separate sexual assault case.
Kelley was ultimately found guilty of aggravated sexual abuse, sexual abuse and assault with the territorial jurisdiction. He now faces life in prison.
‘Sexual violence is a horrific violation of personal autonomy and will not be tolerated. We will hold perpetrators accountable,’ US Attorney Erek L Barron said following the ruling.
‘This verdict should send a message to survivors that they are hard, validated and supported,’ he said.
William J DelBagno, the FBI Baltimore Special Agent in Charge, added that the bureau ‘will never stop working to serve justice for the victims of predators like Mr. Kelley, no matter where the crime occurs.
‘Today’s conviction reflects the unwavering resolve of the FBI to protect our communities and keep Americans safe.’
