St. Paul Man Convicted of Raping Wisconsin Woman He Met on Dating App

ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA – A jury has convicted a 38-year-old St. Paul man of raping a Wisconsin woman he met on a dating app, following a trial that revealed a troubling history of prior sexual offenses.

Jury Convicts After Two-Day Trial

After deliberations last week, jurors found Green Isiah Kelly Jr. guilty of third-degree criminal sexual conduct, though he was acquitted of a more severe first-degree charge. He is being held in custody until his October 31 sentencing, according to case reports.

Kelly had previously been convicted in 2013 of sexually assaulting a woman who had passed out from alcohol at a party. Court records show he was sentenced to 15 years in prison and later received additional time for assaulting another inmate in 2020.

Assault Reported After March Meeting

According to a criminal complaint filed in March, the 37-year-old victim from Menomonie, Wisconsin, told police she had first connected with Kelly on a dating app about a month earlier.

She said that when they met on March 23 at Kelly’s home in the Summit-University neighborhood, she realized the photos on his dating profile were not of him. Though she told him she was not interested in a relationship, she agreed to remain friends.

That day, she agreed to cut his beard after he offered to pay her. Once inside his home, however, Kelly allegedly forced himself on her, throwing her onto a bed, tearing off her clothes, and pinning her down while she screamed and resisted.

Victim’s Quick Actions Provided Evidence

The woman managed to escape after Kelly was interrupted by a phone call and a knock at the door. She fled partially clothed and immediately drove to a hospital in Wisconsin for a sexual assault exam.

During her drive, Kelly repeatedly called her. The victim recorded their conversations, in which Kelly apologized and admitted he had let his “hormones” take over. Those recordings were later provided to police and used as key evidence in the case.

Awaiting Sentencing

Kelly’s attorney did not respond to requests for comment following the verdict. He faces sentencing at the end of October, where prosecutors are expected to argue for a lengthy prison term given his past record and status as a convicted sex offender.

The conviction underscores ongoing concerns about repeat offenders using dating apps to target victims and highlights the importance of victims coming forward quickly with evidence.

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