CHESTNUT RIDGE MAN SENTENCED TO 12 YEARS IN PRISON FOR SEXUAL CONDUCT AGAINST A CHILD IN THE FIRST DEGREE

NEW CITY, N.Y. – Rockland County District Attorney Thomas E. Walsh II announced today that Thomas Kelly, 70, of Chestnut Ridge, New York, was sentenced before the Honorable Kevin F. Russo in Rockland County Court to a term of 12 years in state prison.

On July 9, 2026, defendant pled guilty to Course of Sexual Conduct Against a Child in the First Degree, Penal Law Section 130.75(1)(b), a Class “B” Violent Felony. On or about and between June 20, 2019 and February of 2020, the defendant subjected a female child under the age of 13 years old to continuous sexual abuse in the Village of Chestnut Ridge, County of Rockland, State of New York. The repeated sexual abuse included sexual intercourse.

The Court sentenced defendant to 12 years in state prison and an additional 10 years of post-release supervision, with a full stay away order of protection. He will be required to register as a sex offender prior to his release from prison.

District Attorney Thomas E. Walsh II said, “This defendant abused a position of trust and subjected this child to repeated sexual acts. My office will always seek justice for the victims of sexual assault and we advocated for a strict sentence that will hopefully have the defendant spend the rest of his years in prison. The victim had the strength to confront this defendant in Court today and provided a powerful victim impact statement during the sentencing proceeding. She is a testament to the courage and perseverance of victims who deserve justice. Our thoughts and prayers remain with her on her path of recovery.”

This investigation was conducted by the Ramapo Police Department with assistance from the Rockland County District Attorney’s Office Special Victims Unit. The case was prosecuted by Division Chief Joseph Barca and Executive Assistant District Attorney Emily McNiff.