A man convicted of raping a 17-year-old on a Carnival Cruise sexually assaulted at least half a dozen other people, according to an FBI investigation.
Jalen Thomas Kelley, 22, of Abingdon, Maryland, was convicted of aggravated sexual abuse, sexual abuse and assault after police say he raped a minor aboard the Carnival Legend in January 2023. During the two-week trial, six other people spoke out against Kelley and testified that he had sexually assaulted them in separate incidents.
Officials with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Maryland said in a news release that Kelley could face a maximum sentence of life in prison. As of Tuesday morning, he had not been sentenced. His sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge.
What Happened?
The incident in which Kelley was recently convicted happened between Jan. 1, 2023, and Jan. 2, 2023, as the ship prepared to return to port in Baltimore, according to reporting from the Miami Herald. The teen was vacationing with her family on the ship.
The two met at a New Year’s Eve party aboard the ship. The teen, who has not been named to protect their identity, needed a restroom and court documents say he took them to his cabin. When they finished in the bathroom, Kelley attacked the teen.
Once home after the cruise, the teen reported the rape to parents and police.
Kelley was arrested on Sept. 20, 2023.
Additional Crimes
In 2019, while Kelley was still a minor, he was convicted in a sexual assault case, according to the Miami Herald.
During the FBI probe, four months after the cruise, he was accused of having raped a classmate at Wingate University in North Carolina where he played for the school’s football team. As of November 2023, there was an outstanding warrant for Kelley in that case for second-degree forcible rape.
In North Carolina, this charge is a felony and, if convicted, carries a penalty of 44 to 182 months in prison. Additionally, those convicted of this crime may be required to register as sex offenders.
It is unclear whether there will be any additional charges in relation to the testimony given the accusations made at trial.
Leesfield & Partners
As a personal injury law firm located just half an hour from PortMiami, the country’s largest cruise port, Leesfield & Partners has been retained to represent hundreds of passengers and crew injured aboard ships. Throughout the years, the firm has handled a myriad of cruise ship injury cases from medical malpractice, premises liability and negligent and inadequate security.
One case handled by the firm involved a Canadian woman traveling on a ship for a friend’s wedding. The woman was attacked in her cabin by a crewmember who had access to her room via an employee keycard. Once inside the cabin, the man attacked and raped her.
A confidential settlement was secured for the woman in that case.
In an ongoing case being handled by Leesfield & Partners’ Bernardo Pimentel II, a crewmember similarly used his employee status to enter private cabins and plant hidden cameras that he used to film passengers in their bathrooms. Passengers who were filmed range in age from adults to minors.
Our client in that case has been left severely scarred from the ordeal.
Cruise lines are considered to be common carriers, meaning they have an irrefutable duty to protect those on board from all manner of situations, including criminal activity from other passengers and from crewmembers. In that vein, cruise lines are expected to provide a safe environment by having security measures, properly trained personnel, and procedures to address criminal behavior on board.
Representing Victims and Survivors
In nearly 50 years of personal injury practice, Leesfield & Partners has been privileged to represent victims and survivors in their bids for justice. While no monetary amount can take back the damage that has been done, the recognition of this damage by perpetrators, and the entities that routinely failed our clients during the abuse, can be a start in the healing process.
The firm previously represented a camper of a well-known Florida summer camp who was sexually abused by a 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, the firm handled a case concerning a depraved school and church official who routinely preyed upon the children he was tasked with protecting. Four victims came forward as adults and Leesfield & Partners was able to secure a confidential settlement for them.
That case was handled by Carlos A. Fabano, a Trial Lawyer at the firm.
A housekeeper at a Monroe County hotel was raped while on the job. Leesfield & Partners secured a $1 million award for the woman in that case.
The firm secured a multi-million recovery for the victims of a teacher at a well-known boy’s school in Florida. The school ignored the warning signs of this teacher’s predatory behavior, leaving their students vulnerable to abuse.
In addition to litigation, the firm’s Founder and Managing Partner, Ira Leesfield, has pledged regular support for South Florida organizations aimed at preventing sexual abuse and supporting victims and survivors from its devastating effects. Through The Leesfield Family Foundation, Mr. Leesfield has supported organizations such as Kristi House, Lotus House/Sundari Foundation, the Voices for Children Foundation, Women in Distress and the Women’s Fund of Miami-Dade County.
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.