Grandparents arrested in child abuse case

PALMER -- George and Shirley Long left the Palmer District Courthouse in handcuffs Wednesday after appearing on misdemeanor criminal trespass charges. The Longs were arrested on 12 misdemeanor charges prosecutors brought against them earlier this week, including harassment and assault. Although defendants are not usually incarcerated for misdemeanors, the seriousness of the charges against the Longs landed them in Mat-Su Pre-Trial Facility Wednesday.

The Longs, adoptive grandparents of the five Kelley children, were well aware of the abuse the children suffered at the hands of Patrick and Sherry Kelley, and on occasion they participated in that abuse, according to charging documents filed Tuesday in Palmer District Court.

George Long, 65, and his wife, Shirley Long, 60, face 12 misdemeanor charges between them in connection with the growing abuse case, including fourth-degree assault, harassment and failure to report a violent crime against a child.

The Longs live on a lot adjacent to the Kelley's property off Misty Lake Road near Wasilla, where the Kelleys' five adopted children, ages 6 to 15, suffered beatings, starvation, confinement and neglect, according to trooper reports. Patrick and Sherry Kelley, who were arraigned last Friday, now face a total of 54 criminal charges, including nine felonies.

New charging documents filed by Assistant District Attorney Rachel Gernat allege the Longs, biological parents of Sherry Kelley, were aware of all the injuries to the children, including severe burns on the youngest boy that went untreated through this spring and summer.

The Longs knew Patrick and Sherry Kelley had not taken the boy to the hospital and reportedly laughed at him and thought he had intentionally burned himself.

In addition, George Long allegedly whipped the older boy with a belt when he tried to run away last summer and left marks all over his body, and this spring he repeatedly whipped both boys with a willow switch, according to charging documents.

Although George Long initially called state troopers out to the Kelley compound July 8 following an altercation between Sherry Kelley and the oldest daughter, the day before, July 7, he tied the youngest boy up to a dog run, putting a collar around his neck.

The boy told troopers he could not sit down or kneel without strangling himself and had to remain standing for three hours. Earlier on the day troopers arrived at the Kelleys', George Long hit the older boy over the head with a hand drill, the documents stated.

In addition to the assault charges, George Long faces two counts of harassment for "offensive physical contact" with the two oldest girls, who were 14 and 15 when troopers interviewed them this summer.

Gernat's affidavit says the girls told troopers George Long began pulling up their shirts and hugging them in a strange way beginning in the spring of 2004. He also began staring at the girls' bodies and both girls told troopers his behavior made them feel uncomfortable.

Patrick and Sherry Kelley were arrested and jailed Sept. 13. Before they were arrested on misdemeanor assault and harassment charges Wednesday, George and Shirley Long had been ordered to stay away from the children by a short-term protective order issued Tuesday by District Court Judge Jack Smith.

Sandra Forman, another daughter of George and Shirley Long, has temporary custody of the five children and filed for a protective order against the Longs and Patrick Kelley for an incident that occurred on Sept. 5 at her residence.

Upon returning to their home the evening of Sept. 5, Sandra Forman and her husband, Tom, saw that Patrick Kelley was waiting for them. The Formans, who had their children and the Kelley children with them, drove away from their home as Patrick Kelley chased them, attempting to grab hold of Tom's moving vehicle.

The Formans called state troopers to clear the area. When troopers called back and said the area was clear, the Formans came back but pulled into a neighbor's driveway in order to check the house again. While Tom was checking the house, George Long approached Sandra and the children, who were still parked in the neighbor's driveway.

"I heard a rustling, and it was George coming through the trees," Forman told Judge Smith in a hearing Tuesday. As this was happening, Shirley Long allegedly pulled up behind Sandra's car, blocking the driveway. Forman said she and the children were very frightened by what was going on.

The Longs refused to leave. After George challenged Tom Forman to a fight in the street, the Formans called state troopers to come to the neighbor's residence, where they arrested George Long for criminal trespass and disorderly conduct. He was released on bail the next day.

Because of this incident, Sandra Forman is seeking a six-month protective order against the Longs and Patrick Kelley. A hearing for this order was delayed Tuesday because the Longs had not been given the required 10-day notice and were not present in court.

Judge Smith granted another 20-day extension of the temporary protective order currently in effect and set Oct. 4 as the new hearing date.

The protective order stipulates that George and Shirley Long can have no contact with the Formans, their children or the Kelley children, and must stay away from the Formans' home and church, the home of Sandra's sister, Shelly McGovern, the neighbor's home and the children's schools. In addition, George Long is prohibited from possessing a firearm because of threats he allegedly made over the telephone this summer.

But for now the Longs are being held at Mat-Su Pre-Trial Facility. George Long's bail was set at $20,000, and Shirley's was set a $10,000 with a court approved third party. If released, they must abide by the terms of the protective order issued Tuesday.

Contact John Davidson at john.davidson@frontiersman.com.