Dean Kelly Lawsuit: Charges, Bond, and Washington Parish Probation

Dean Kelly, a former New Orleans model and registered sex offender, is facing charges of sexual battery, attempted simple rape, and two sex offender registration violations filed by the Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Special Victims Unit in May 2024. The Dean Kelly case stems from allegations that he used fake names and old modeling photos on Bumble and Facebook Dating to contact women after his June 2022 release from a roughly ten-year prison sentence. He has pleaded not guilty, and as of mid-2026 no trial date has been set.¹²

The Current Charges

On May 10, 2024, the Orleans Parish DA’s Special Victims Unit formally charged Kelly with one count of sexual battery and one count of attempted simple rape. Prosecutors also filed two sex offender registration violations: one for failing to register a BMW X5, and one for failing to disclose his sex offender status on social networking sites.¹

In its announcement, the office described Kelly as a “clear and present danger to the members of this community” and urged anyone contacted by him through dating or social media apps to report it to the New Orleans Police Department.³ Kelly pleaded not guilty.²

What the Dating App Allegations Involve

According to an arrest warrant, Kelly used Bumble and Facebook Dating under names including Brodey, Zoey, Ed, and Casho, posting older modeling photos and claiming to be in his early thirties despite being 52.⁴

One woman told police she met Kelly on Facebook Dating in October 2023, where he used the name “Zoey.” She reported that when she arrived at his home he did not resemble his profile photo, that he removed her clothes and insisted she lie on his bed despite her objections, and that she “froze” before being able to leave after about ten minutes.⁴ That incident produced the initial arrest warrant. On December 7, 2023, the NOPD’s Special Victims Division arrested Kelly on one count each of attempted third-degree rape and sexual battery.⁵

Bond, House Arrest, and the Passport Mistake

A magistrate judge set bond at $1.1 million and ordered Kelly to 24-hour house arrest with an ankle monitor. He was barred from using the internet or dating sites and required to surrender his passport.⁶

Kelly’s mother posted the bond on December 18, 2023. The Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office failed to collect his passport when he was released, prompting the District Attorney’s Office to notify security officials at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport about his travel restrictions.⁶

In January 2024, prosecutors moved to revoke the bond over a dispute about the address Kelly had listed while on house arrest. His attorney, Frank DeSalvo, called it a “mistake on paperwork” made when his mother posted the bond.⁷

A Parallel Probation Case in Washington Parish

The new arrest also triggered a probation violation proceeding in Washington Parish, where Kelly remained on probation from an earlier misdemeanor conviction for threatening public officials. The Louisiana Attorney General’s office asked the court to revoke Kelly’s probation entirely and jail him for six months.⁸

On July 17, 2024, Judge Tara Farris Zeller declined to revoke probation outright and instead imposed a 30-day jail sanction, with a further revocation hearing scheduled for November 2024.⁸ If probation is ultimately revoked, a previously suspended sentence could be converted into active jail time.⁹

The Prior Conviction Behind the Registration Requirement

Kelly’s status as a registered sex offender comes from a 2013 case. He had allegedly lured three women to his Uptown New Orleans home in 2005 by posing as a talent scout near Tulane University and other Uptown campuses. In September 2013, he pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual battery and one count of carnal knowledge of a juvenile.¹⁰

Kelly served roughly ten years, including time at the Rayburn Correctional Center in Washington Parish, and was released on June 4, 2022, after completing his sentence.¹¹

Where the Case Stands Now

The Orleans Parish prosecution has moved slowly. A pretrial conference in early April 2026 ended with the case taken off the April calendar and reset to May 20, 2026.¹² The May 20 conference went forward but produced another delay, with the judge giving both sides more time to organize their files.⁹

No firm trial date has been set. Prosecutors are reportedly still investigating alleged probation violations and additional assault-related claims, and the court is expected to address pending motions and the potential probation revocation at future proceedings.⁹

1
Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office. OPDA Special Victims Unit Formally Charges Dean Kelly With Sexual Battery Related Offenses
2
WDSU. New Orleans Model Dean Kelly Jailed for Probation Violation
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FOX 8 Live. Orleans Parish DA Files Sexual Battery, Attempted Rape Charges Against Dean Kelly
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FOX 8 Live. Dean Kelly Used Fake Name, Older Pictures to Lure Latest Victim, Warrant Says
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NOPD News. NOPD Arrests Suspect on Attempted Third-Degree Rape
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FOX 8 Live. Dean Kelly’s Mom Posts $1.1 Million Bond; Jail Staff Fail to Collect Passport Upon Release
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FOX 8 Live. Prosecutors Seek Bond Revocation for Former New Orleans Model, Convicted Sex Offender Dean Kelly
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FOX 8 Live. Former Model Dean Kelly Gets 30-Day Jail Sanction in Washington Parish
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Hoodline. Dean Kelly Sex Case Kicked Down the Road Again in New Orleans Court
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FOX 8 Live. Ex-Model Dean Kelly Again Arrested on Sex Crime Allegations
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WDSU. New Orleans Model Dean Kelly Released From Prison
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WDSU. New Orleans Dean Kelly Trial Delayed to May