THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT   
              Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Tuesday, November 29, 1994             TAG: 9411290296
SECTION: LOCAL                    PAGE: B1   EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA  
SOURCE: BY ESTES THOMPSON, ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: RALEIGH                            LENGTH: Medium:   68 lines

CORRECTION/CLARIFICATION: ***************************************************************** The Associated Press erroneously reported Nov. 28 that Willard Scott Privott pleaded guilty to sexual abuse charges in the Little Rascals Day Care Center case. Privott pleaded no contest. Correction published , Thursday, December 1, 1994, p. B2, NORTH CAROLINA EDITION ***************************************************************** ELIZABETH KELLY LEAVES PRISON THE LITTLE RASCALS CO-OWNER WILL WORK AND LIVE IN RALEIGH

The co-owner of the now-closed Little Rascals day care center in Edenton walked out of a women's prison Monday after serving 11 months for child sexual abuse.

Elizabeth T. Kelly looked happy to be free as she walked out of Raleigh Correctional Center for Women with parole officer Stacy Hall. She said only ``good morning'' to reporters.

Her future includes finding a job and living in Raleigh, said prison Superintendent Joy Barefoot.

During her 11 months in prison, Kelly worked as a clerk at a Department of Correction engineering office and tutored other inmates who wanted to take a high school equivalency exam, the superintendent said.

Kelly's husband, Robert F. Kelly Jr., is serving 12 life sentences for his conviction in April 1992 on 99 counts of molesting children at the Edenton day care.

Robert Kelly's trial was one of the state's longest and costliest. It raised awareness of sexual abuse as well as questions about how such cases are handled.

He and former day care employee Dawn Wilson, who was released from prison on bond to raise her baby, are appealing their convictions. Another defendant, Willard Scott Privott, pleaded guilty and was released on probation. Privott was a friend of Robert Kelly.

Four other defendants in the much-publicized case are still awaiting trial.

After pleading no contest to 30 charges in a plea agreement with prosecutors in January, Elizabeth Kelly was sentenced to seven years in prison. Although eligible for release immediately because of the years she spent in jail awaiting trial, Elizabeth Kelly was denied parole and remained in prison until state law required that she be released.

The couple maintained their innocence, even after Elizabeth Kelly entered her plea.

She said last January that she pleaded guilty so she could put the charges behind her. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Elizabeth T. Kelly, right, looked happy to be free as she walked out

of Raleigh Correctional Center for Women in Raleigh Monday. She is

accompanied by parole officer Stacy Hall.

KEYWORDS: DAY CARE CENTERS CHILD ABUSE SEX CRIME

CHILD MOLESTER TRIAL ELIZABETH T. KELLY

PRISON RELEASE by CNB