A 64-year-old Brandon man who is a registered sex offender has been charged with sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl after being introduced to her by his wife, an Oxford High School teacher.
William Arthur Keely was arraigned in 52-2 District Court on July 3 on multiple charges, including three counts of child sexual abuse activity, a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison; four counts of a felon in possession of a firearm; four counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, one count of criminal sexual conduct fourth degree; and one count of providing pornography to a minor.
His wife of 30 years, Margaret Sullivan Keely, 53, a special education teacher at Oxford High School, was arraigned on a misdemeanor charge of failure to report (child abusive activities) as a mandated reporter.
‘We have two cases where the system has let down the victims and the community as a whole,? said Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard last week. ‘A convicted sex offender was in a position to hurt another victim… Even worse is someone you expect to be an advocate for a child, in the school system… put a child in harm’s way.?
According to police reports, Margaret Keely befriended the victim at OHS two years ago, when the girl was a 14-year-old freshman. The special education teacher then invited the victim, who was not a student of hers, over to the Keely home on Hummer Lake Road to do odd jobs around the house as a laborer.
Margaret Keely introduced the victim to her husband, who had been convicted of four counts of criminal sexual conduct, second degree, in 2002 after sexually assaulting a 14-year-old foster child.
Oxford Schools Superintendent William Skilling said the district considers the charges to be of the utmost seriousness and has taken action to suspend Margaret Keely from all teaching responsibilities and remove her from the schools.
The Oxford victim was at the Keely home on weekends during the course of the past two years and then in April, William Keely allegedly requested she test sex toys that he provided under the false ruse that she would be paid by a company that made the devices.
On June 26, William Keely invited the girl to come over and watch a movie. During the movie, Bouchard said Keely grabbed the victim’s breast, groin area and told her, ‘your body wants it.? The girl fled the home and the assault was reported to police the following day.
William Keely was given a $6.5 million bond by Judge Dana Fortinberry and remains in the Oakland County Jail. Margaret Keely was released from custody on 10 percent of a $10,000 bond and has been ordered to stay away from OHS property.
‘Sex offenders are prolific,? said OCSO Sgt. Pete Burkett of the Brandon substation. ‘They don’t stop victimizing. If he gets out, he will do it again. It’s the nature of the beast… He did 10 months in jail and here it is five years later and he has another victim.?
In April 2001, William Keely was convicted by a jury of four counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison, after his 14-year-old foster daughter reported having sexual intercourse with him on two occasions.
However, Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Edward Sosnick set aside the conviction and ordered a new trial due to the possibility that the prosecutor’s conduct influenced the jury to convict based not on the evidence, but on Margaret Keely’s decision to not testify.
The victim did not wish to testify in a second trial and in September 2002, William Keely was allowed to plead no contest to four counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct. He served 10 months of a one-year sentence and was put on probation for two years. His probation ended in September 2004.
‘He was back in the community to create other victims,? said Bouchard, who urges anyone who may have been a victim of similar circumstances to come forward.
The victim’s father said his daughter is in bad shape and the family has sought help for her.
Burkett offered advice for parents to avoid having the same thing happen to one of their children.
‘If an adult is taking an unusually aggressive interest in your child, that should be a big red flag,? he said. ‘You need to give kids freedom, but know who they’re hanging out with, where they are, who their friends are. Introduce yourself to their friends? parents.?
To report a sexual crime, call 1-800-TURN-1-IN or the Brandon substation at 248-627-4911. View the sex offender registry online at www.michigan.gov/msp
Oxford Leader Editor C.J. Carnacchio contributed to this report.