A man was sentenced to 20 years in prison and five years of supervised release for a sexual assault that took place on a Baltimore cruise ship, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland said Thursday.
Jalen Kelley, 22, of Abingdon, Maryland, was found guilty in December of aggravated sexual abuse, sexual abuse and assault while aboard a Baltimore cruise ship.
Kelley raped the victim, a minor, on Jan. 1, 2023, aboard the ship. In reporting from The Miami Herald, the teen allegedly needed to use the restroom, and Kelley allowed the minor to use the bathroom in his cabin. When the minor finished using the restroom, Kelley attacked the teen.
The teen reported the incident to the parents and police after returning home from the cruise. Kelley was taken into custody on Sept. 20, 2023.
During the two-week-long trial in December, testimony was heard from about half a dozen other individuals who said that Kelley had sexually assaulted them in separate incident.
Leesfield & Partners
In nearly 50 years of personal injury law, Leesfield & Partners has represented numerous victims of cruise ship accidents including clients injured in cruise ship excursion incidents, slip and falls, medical malpractice cases and crimes aboard ships. In that time, our skilled attorneys have represented these clients with the diligence, respect and care that their cases deserve. Our attorneys have been recognized for their work and have previously secured numerous record verdicts and settlements on behalf of injured clients.
In decades of representing victims and survivors of sexual assault, Leesfield & Partners has channeled change via advocacy with The Leesfield Family Foundation. The Foundation, the charitable organization started by the firm’s Founder and Managing Partner, Ira Leesfield, supports numerous groups who provide essential services to those who have experienced sexual abuse. This regular support has undoubtedly made a difference for those seeking help finding shelter, providing education and prevention services, and for those struggling with their mental health.
In cruise ship sexual assault cases, Leesfield & Partners attorneys work diligently to secure the best possible outcome for clients. Previously, the firm represented a Canadian woman who was traveling on a cruise ship. When she was alone in her cabin, a member of the crew used his employee keycard to enter and attack her.
A multi-million-dollar recovery was obtained for the woman in that case.
A separate client was left with severe emotional scarring and PTSD after a crew member planted hidden cameras in her private cabin bathroom. The cameras were installed in the bathrooms of various passengers, including in the rooms of children. This crew member was later sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for producing child sex abuse material.
This an ongoing case being handled by Bernardo Pimentel II, a Trial Attorney at the firm.
Additional Sexual Assault Cases
The firm previously represented a minor who went to a well-known Florida summer camp where he was sexually abused by a camp counselor. The camp ignored blatant red flags that should have alerted them to the counselor’s behavior.
Leesfield & Partners recovered $8.6 million for the camper in that case.
Recently, Leesfield & partners handled a confidential case in which a school and church official preyed on four minors, now adults, while they attended parochial schools. This case was handled by Mr. Leesfield and Carlos A. Fabano, a Trial Attorney at the firm.
A Leesfield & Partners secured a $1 million award for a housekeeper at a Monroe County hotel was raped while on the job.
In the case of a prestigious Florida high school that allowed a teacher to sexually abuse multiple students, Leesfield & Partners secured a multi-million-dollar recovery.
If you or a loved one has been affected by sexual abuse, 24-hour help can be found by calling the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673.