Jimmy Love Sr., the attorney for the Lee County Board of Education, told the board Tuesday night that he was unable to find any violation of school board policy by member Patrick Kelly, who was at the center of controversy back in March when photos of him engaged in legal, consensual sexual activity were brought to the board’s attention.
“I pursued all the allegations I could hear or possibly find. I’ve talked to students, I’ve talked to parents, and my conclusion after all of that is that there was no violation of ethics policy 2120, or any other policy of the Board of Education,” Love said. “It would be my recommendation that no action be taken because I have been unable to substantiate the allegations that have been made regarding board policy 2120.”
Love said he’d even attempted to contact Southern Pines radio host John Zumwalt, who was one of the first people to bring the photos to the board’s attention, and who made the official complaint which led to the investigation.
“I wrote him a letter … and asked for his help in view of the allegations he’d made, and I haven’t heard anything from him,” Love said.
Board Member Sherry Womack, who herself was cleared of ethical wrongdoing in February after questions were raised about her participation in a Washington, D.C. rally for Donald Trump just prior to the Capitol insurrection on Jan. 6, asked multiple questions of Love, including whether he had any role in a similar investigation into Kelly by Central Carolina Community College (by whom Kelly is employed) and whether his investigation looked into any policies other than 2120 (which is the board’s code of ethics).
Love, who is also the attorney for CCCC’s Board of Trustees, said the college’s investigation was a personnel matter with which he had no involvement, and that he considered “all the policies I felt would be relevant to this issue,” including one which Womack asked about regarding the use of social media by school board members.
Kelly made no comment on the investigation at Tuesday’s meeting. Watch the full meeting video here.
Patrick Kelly is a freak. How dare he share to the world him getting his freak on. What a punk !!!
He didn’t “show the world” anything, and whoever you are, you’re an idiot. If I were you, I’d keep hiding behind your fake name.
You are an idiot….Radtherapy…
No one cares about your opinion..
If you have nothing good to say , shut your mouth…
Mr Kelly is one of the finest human beings to walk this earth..
Obviously you have never meet him, or perhaps even know him
Shame on you ……..
Mr. Kelly has absolutely no business serving on our school board or having anything to do with developing children. I am sure he is a warm, wonderful human being. He is also a sexual deviant caught openly soliciting other like minded persons to engage with him. It is not just this contemptible act, while a member of our school board, that makes him unacceptable. It shows his mindset, his values. Is Mr. Kelly really the person you think he is?
I trust Kelly more than you and the other right wing nuts
Mr. Kelly is the person who he is.
The only seated board member that actually goes to the schools in person to speak to the faculty…
Do you do that ? Do you volunteer, work to do good in your community???
If not , which I would say is correct, what a person chooses in there personal life is no one’s business…
Not even yours …
Check yourself!!
While I agree with and commend your characterization of Mr. Kelly, your assertion that he is the only sitting board member that goes to schools to talk with faculty is factually inaccurate.
Having said that, this was nothing more than a character assassination plot spearheaded by the Womack’s. Their denials of such can be added to the ever-growing list of lies they have told Lee County residents over the years.
Indeed you may be correct, I may have left out one that didn’t come to mind…
Thank you for that info, and yes I agree with the latter…
You have NO idea what this man is capable of. I speak as a former student of Lee county schools. It’s a discrase this man is on the school board with my children attending! I know from experience… So don’t you dare say he is not immoral