MADISON, Miss. — The political blogger, who admitted he conspired to sneak into the nursing home room of Rose Cochran, then wife of US Senator Thad Cochran, to videotape her, has been sentenced to two and a half years in prison.
Clayton Kelly, 29, of Pearl was sentenced Monday in Madison County court. Prosecutors argued that the image of Rose Cochran, taken during a tough political fight between her husband and challenger Chris McDaniel, was intended to be used with an article about Senator Cochran’s alleged affair. According to testimony Monday, Kelly conspired with Mark Mayfield and John Mary, who gave Kelly the nursing home layout and security details to gain entry. While Kelly expressed remorse in a facebook message to the co-conspirators, investigators said he ultimately posted the video anyway to make a name for himself as a journalist.
Rose Cochran died in December, and her husband recently married his longtime office aide, Kay Webber. Sen. Cochran’s son, Clayton Cochran said in court Monday, “I’m here as much to mourn my mother as to condemn the crimes that have been discussed. She was a lovely woman, and we miss her.”
Kelly was the last to be sentenced in the case. John Mary pleaded guilty to conspiracy in August and got no jail time. Mark Mayfiend had been charged with conspiracy, but he killed himself in June 2014.
Watch unedited video of interview with Kelly’s attorney following Monday’s sentencing.
https://youtu.be/iRLkA51qJ58
