NY state court upholds disbarment of Dutchess County lawyer

 

NY state court upholds disbarment of Dutchess County lawyer

A Dutchess County lawyer and former county legislator has been formally barred from practicing law.

Michael N. Kelsey, 38, of Salt Point, was automatically disbarred last May when he was convicted of sexual assault charges in St. Lawrence County.

On Feb. 22, the state Appellate Court, second department, affirmed the disbarment and ordered that his name be removedĀ from the state roll of attorneys.

In 2014, Kelsey, an assistant Boy Scout leader, had led a troop from Fishkill on a weeklong camping trip at Cranberry Lake in St. Lawrence County.

Two boys who were 15 when the trip took place testified against Kelsey, according to news articles. One said the scout leader touched him and the other said he tried to touch him, while they were sleeping.

A county court jury found Kelsey guilty of sexual abuse, attempted sexual assault, forcible touching and endangering the welfare of children.

He was sentenced to seven years in prison, and for the past four months he has been an inmate at Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora.

Kelsey was admitted to practicing law in 2009. He was serving as a county legislator for the 25th district when he was arrested in 2014.

Author: Harlem Valley News