By GRAHAM BROOKS / Staff Writer

COLUMBIANA–After spending more than seven months in the Shelby County Jail for charges of alleged aggravated family child abuse, both Richard Hobson Kelly and Cynthia Rogers Kelly of Helena were released from jail on July 5 after Shelby County Circuit Court Judge William Bostick granted an order to amend their bail to $100,000 a piece.

The Kelly’s were arrested on Nov. 14, 2016 and charged with aggravated family child abuse after allegedly torturing, willfully abusing and maltreating their 14-year-old adopted son, according to court documents.

According to their indictments filed on April 19, the Kelly’s allegedly, “Did on or between November 1, 2014, to November 12, 2016, torture, willfully abuse, cruelly beat, or otherwise willfully maltreat said child over the period of two years to a closed off room in the basement with a locked door for 23 hours a day with limited to no access to social interaction; further, that was only allowed a box spring to sleep on; further, that was only fed one meal a day and that food and nourishment was withheld to the point that the victim was admitted on the date of Nov. 12, 2016, to the hospital suffering from extreme malnourishment, shock, hypothermia and dehydration to the point of near death and presented with abrasions on his knees, lips, ears and ankles, did such act which caused serious physical injury.”

The Kelly’s defense attorney John Medaris filed a proposed order seeking a reduction to the bond of $1 million on July 2, prior to the bond reduction hearing on July 5.

On July 5, Bostick granted the order to amend the bail amount to $100,000 in the case and the Kelly’s were subsequently released from the Shelby County Jail on July 5.

“All other conditions of bail are to remain in full force and effect, including that the defendant have no contact or communication in any form with the complainant or alleged victim,” the order amending bail said.