Minneapolis Staff Sergeant Found Guilty Of Sexually Abusing Subordinate

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — A Minneapolis man and former member of the Minnesota National Guard was found guilty by a federal jury of sexually abusing a subordinate during a training mission at a California Army base, prosecutors announced Thursday.

Kelly Boylan, 56, was convicted of one count of abusive sexual contact of a woman following a four-day trial in the Central District of California, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Prosecutors said the incident occurred in July 2020 at Fort Irwin in San Bernardino County, where Boylan and the victim, a 23-year-old junior soldier, were deployed for a monthlong training mission.

At the time, Boylan was a staff sergeant, a non-commissioned officer who outranked the victim, who held the rank of specialist. Military rules prohibit non-commissioned officers from engaging in sexual relationships with junior enlisted soldiers because of the authority they hold over them.

According to evidence presented at trial, Boylan sexually abused the subordinate during the deployment. The victim later reported the incident to the Army’s law enforcement division, prompting an investigation that led to Boylan’s arrest and prosecution.

The FBI investigated the case, with assistance from the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division.

Boylan is scheduled to be sentenced July 24. He faces a statutory maximum of two years in federal prison and remains free on $25,000 bond, court records show.