State lawmaker charged with reckless conduct

Grand jury indicts GOP whip for his actions in a 2019 hit- and- run case.

Georgia House Republican Whip Trey Kelley was indicted Thursday by a Polk County grand jury on charges involving his actions following a 2019 fatal hit- and- run.

Kelley has been charged with reckless conduct, a misdemeanor, on allegations in connection with the assistance he gave his friend, Ralph Dover III, after Dover hit a bicyclist and left the scene in September 2019. Dover is charged with felony hit- and- run and reckless conduct.

Polk County District Attorney Jack Browning said arrest warrants will be i ssued for Kelley and Dover.

Kelley’s attorney, S. Lester Tate, said while he had not yet reviewed the charges, he was sure Kelley would be vindicated in court.

“I feel confident that Trey — who was not even in the car at the time of the collision and was called to the scene after the fact — did nothing wrong,” he said.

After Dover left the scene of the collision, he called Kelley, according to police documents. Instead of calling 911, Kelley, who is a lawyer, called the Cedartown police chief, who also didn’t call 911, records show.

The bicyclist, Eric Keais, died from his injuries — a death ruled “homicide by vehicle” by the Polk County coroner.

Kelley told The Atlanta Journal- Constitution this year he did not initially call 911 because he didn’t know exactly what happened.

“At that time, I still did not know another human being was involved,” he said in a statement. “I fully cooperated with law enforcement.”

Kelley won his Republican primary race in June with 64% of

the vote. He easily defeated his Democratic opponent in November. He also was unanimously reelected last month by his GOP peers to his l eadership role as the Republican Caucus whip.

House Speaker David Ralston, a Blue Ridge Republican, called Keais’ death a tragedy and encouraged the public not to rush to judgment.

“I have great respect and affection for Trey Kelley. His is my friend ,” Ralston said in a statement .“It is appropriate to remember that Representative Kelley is entitled to the protection soft he U.S. Constitution including the presumption of innocence unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.”

Browning said the case will now go before the state Superior Court.

“Because the Georgia State Patrol, the investigating agency, had not made any arrests in connection with the investigation, the grand jury was authorized to determine for themselves and to recommend the charges they believed were appropriate and justified under the law,” Browning said in a statement.