Man Who Kept Woman Captive At Morris Co. Hotel Sentenced To Prison

PARSIPPANY, NJ — A 38-year-old man was sentenced to 12 years in state prison for holding a woman captive at gunpoint in a hotel room in Parsippany on Christmas Eve 2021.

Earl L. Kelly of Hamilton was convicted of criminal restraint and two weapons offenses.

A jury acquitted him of four counts of aggravated sexual assault, two counts of sexual assault, two counts of aggravated criminal sexual contact, one count of criminal sexual contact, one count of armed robbery, and one count of aggravated assault.

The evidence at trial established that Kelly met the 19-year-old girl at the Holiday Inn on Route 46 on Dec. 24, 2021. Kelly physically restrained the victim inside the room for a time while armed with a handgun, police said.

Kelly was arrested two weeks later in Edison, Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll said.

The Honorable Stephen J. Taylor imposed a total sentence of 12 years in New Jersey State Prison on June 8. Judge Taylor imposed concurrent eight-year sentences for possession of a weapon for an illegal purpose and unlawful possession of a weapon.

The Graves Act applies to those counts, making Kelly ineligible for parole until he has served four years of the eight-year sentence. In addition, Judge Taylor sentenced Kelly to four years in prison for criminal restraint, which will run concurrently with the eight years for unlawful possession of a weapon.