East Texas

By CASEY KNAUPP
Staff Writer

Patrick "Booger Red" Kelly testified in his sexual abuse trial that he has never been to the "Mineola Swingers' Club," that "kindergarten" was never held at his house and that he never did anything sexual or inappropriate to five young children who claim he did.

Kelly, 41, Tyler, is on trial for engaging in organized criminal activity -- forcing a boy to have sex with his older sister during a doctor skit for Kelly's financial gain -- on Aug. 1, 2004. He could face from five years to life in prison if convicted by the Smith County jury in 241st District Judge Jack Skeen Jr.'s court.

Kelly, the first witness to be called by his defense attorneys, claimed the children were lying when they testified he was part of a group of people who taught and forced them to perform sex acts and dance at the club for a paying audience.

Kelly was shown a picture of the "Mineola Swingers' Club" and said he had never been to the building and didn't know what it was before his trial.

He said he met Jamie Pittman in the 1980s in school. He first called him an acquaintance but later said they were friends and Pittman, his girlfriend Shauntel Mayo and their two oldest children would come to his house on weekends to barbecue and drink beer.

Kelly said he does not know the other three child victims in the case and he had never seen them before his trial. He said all of the kids who came into court and identified him were lying and he wanted the jurors to believe him.

"I never touched these children," he said.

Four of the five child victims testified for the state. Each identified Kelly as "Booger Red" in court and said he was involved in the group of adults who sexually abused them. The children all said he was at the "Mineola Swingers' Club" when they performed and some said "kindergarten," where they were taught by the defendants how to perform sex acts, was held at Kelly's house.

Patrick Kelly testifies in the Mineola Swingers Club Trial in 241st Texas State Court in Tyler on Friday.
(Staff Photo By Herb Nygren Jr.)