Timothy Kellis is in prison in Idaho for sexually abusing boys at Camp Grizzly Boy Scout camp in 2007. He appealed his criminal sentence on the standard grounds of “ineffective assistance of counsel.” As expected, the Idaho Court of Appeals denied his appeal. Kellis will continue to serve concurrent sentences of life with a minimum of 15 years for multiple counts of lewd conduct and sexual abuse.
Kellis was tried in 2008 in Latah County, Idaho. Two boys testified that Kellis had sexual contact with them in their tent, on the shotgun range, and in the staff lounge, according to court records. The boys were both under 16 at the time of the abuse. Kellis was a Boy Scout Camp staff member.
In addition to volunteering for the Boy Scouts of America and the Inland Northwest Council of the Boy Scouts, Kellis was once a counselor at the Ross Point Music Camp in Post Falls; a teacher in the Highland School District in Craigmont; an assistant with the Color Guard/Marching Band program in the Clarkston School District; and the music director at a Tumwater, Washington high school. He also faces suspended charges in Asotin County, Idaho.
It seems unlikely that the two boys who testified against Kellis were his only victims because most pedophiles, especially those who abuse children outside their own families, have multiple victims. It is also typical for victims, particularly male victims, to not tell anyone about what happened to them.
As a teacher, counselor, band instructor, and Boy Scout volunteer, Kellis had many opportunities for sexual contact with boys. If you or someone you know was sexually exploited by Timothy Kellis, please contact me at 503-952-6789 or gilion@dumaslawgroup.com if you would like advice from an attorney about the rights and options for victims of child sexual abuse.