Search warrant graphically describes teacher’s alleged sex crimes

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — A New Hanover County teacher shared pornographic images with some students on Snapchat, had sexual conversations while at school, and texted students sexual images of his genitalia, according to an affidavit for a search warrant for Michael Kelly’s home.

The affidavit states that on January 16, the FBI interviewed the parent of 15-year-old, known as Victim 1. The parent notified the FBI that they had found child pornographic images on a cell phone used by Victim 1.

The FBI analyzed the phone and recovered contacts lists, SMS and MMS messages and pornographic images of Victim 1 and adult pornographic images.

On February 2, the FBI interviewed Victim 1. The teen confirmed he sent a sexually explicit image via SMS message to a teacher at Isaac Bear Early College High School. The teen identified the teacher at Michael Kelly. A forensic analysis of the phone showed the image was created August 29. The victim stated he sent the image to  Kelly’s phone. The forensic review of the phone did not locate the SMS messages. Other messages were found between the victim and Kelly. The teen told the FBI that they had deleted several text messages that they believed would upset their parents.

During the interview with the FBI, the teen disclosed the following:

During the beginning of the 2017 school year, in August of 2017, Victim 1 and other students at Isaac Bear engaged in sexual conversation with Kelly, in his classroom during their lunch period. Kelly also discussed his sexual interactions with women, as well as, at least one incident where he and a male friend watched pornography and masturbated at the same time.

During these conversations, the discussions about the size of Kelly’s penis and penis size of other Isaac Bear students were also mentioned.

Victim 1 also disclosed the existence of a “group” on Snapchat. Victim 1 stated that Kelly was a member of this group with students from the school. Victim 1 said that the members of this group exchanged pictures of their penises.

Victim 1 also described an incident during second semester in 2017, when Kelly slid his hand onto Victim 1’s buttocks. Victim 1 described the touching as sexual in nature and not as a “sports pat” or accident.

Victim 1 also described a day when they went into Kelly’s class, engaged in a conversation which lead both the teacher and the student to exit the classroom, and enter the student restroom. Kelly urinated and then turned around and exposed his penis to Victim 1. Victim 1 believed this was on purpose and not an accident.

Victim 1 also described Kelly’s penis, and said Kelly showed them a picture of a “sock puppet” with “googley eyes.” Victim 1 said he believed Kelly was wearing that sock puppet on his penis in the picture.

A review of phone records showed Kelly exchanged over 250 texts with Victim 1 between May 2017 and January 2018.

An additional review of the records determined the phone number associated with Kelly has exchanged over 500 SMS messages with at least four phone numbers believed to be associated with students from Isaac Bear. Some of these same students participated in conversations regarding sex and Kelly’s penis as well as being members of the Snapchat group, according to Victim 1.

On February 6, the FBI interviewed a 16-year-old, known as Victim 2.

Victim 2 disclosed to the FBI and Sheriff’s Office that between August 8 and mid-December, Kelly approached him multiple times. On 2-3 occasions, Kelly shielded his phone from other students and showed Victim 2 a pornographic image on his phone. Victim 2 also stated that on 5-6 occasions he received “Snapchat” messages from Kelly that contained pornographic images of a white male. Victim 2 knew this SnapChat user to be Kelly. Victim 2 confirmed that all of these pictures were closeup shots of male genitalia and that most, if not all of them were of the same white male. He also described the genitalia.

During a search of Kelly’s home, investigators removed a Samsung cell phone, five dell laptop computers, multiple SD cards, an iPhone, a dell tablet, an iPad, a thumb drive, Motorolla cell phone, Verizon cell phone, and an envelope.

Kelly is charged with indecent liberties with a student and sexual exploitation of a minor.

Prosecutors say there are at least five victims.

Kelly remains in the New Hanover County Detention Center under a $1 million bond.