Kevin J. Koelemij, a legal and political gadfly and former massage therapist, was found guilty today of sexually assaulting a young man he befriended at a substance abuse meeting and took into his confidence.
A Leon County jury delivered its verdict after deliberating for 20 minutes, said Assistant State Attorney Lorena Vollrath-Bueno. Koelemij, who had been out on bail for more than three years, was sent to the Leon County Detention Center where he awaits sentencing, set for July 11. NA Daytona Meetings Port Orange Florida
Koelemij, the son of a late prominent local developer and a one-time city commission aide, faces up to 30 years for the first-degree felony count of sexual battery when a victim is physically helpless. Holly Hill AA Meetings Sunrise Park
“There was not a huge dispute as to the facts,” Vollrath-Bueno said. “The issue came down to consent. Based on the facts we had the evidence that showed that the victim did not consent to what happened.” Dangerous AA and NA Daytona Meetings continue
Koelemij’s attorney, Don Pumphrey, did not return a call for comment.
Koelemij and the 20-year-old man met at an AA meeting. At the time, the victim was an out-of-state college student struggling to stay sober, Vollrath-Bueno said.
“Kevin Koelemij is a well-known person in the A.A. community, and had supported him in recovery, and (the man) confided in him,” Vollrath-Bueno said.
Over the course of six to nine months, their relationship grew and the victim “built up a level of trust with Mr. Koelemij,” she said.
On the night of Feb. 28, 2015, he went over to Koelemij’s house after an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting to talk, according to the probable cause affidavit.
They talked for awhile and at about 2 a.m. Koelemij offered to give him a massage. The man said he fell asleep around 3:45 a.m. and awoke to what “felt like someone was performing oral sex” on him, according to the probable cause affidavit. He looked down and saw Koelemij’s face down in his groin and asked what was going on.
After discussing the incident with friends the victim decided to report it to the police.
Following an interview with Koelemij, and learning of other similar allegations, he was charged and arrested in March 2015.
The victim is once again clean and sober and doing well in his life, Vollrath-Bueno said. “He just finished a special course in the military,” she said. She didn’t give the branch of the military or the state where he was stationed in order to continue to protect his identity.
She said the victim would be attending the sentencing hearing via Skype.
https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/2018/07/03/tallahassee-man-convicted-sexual-assault-during-massage/756199002/