Rapist Who Fled To European Ski Slopes Gets 16 Years

A high school athlete who fled to the ski slopes of Europe for eight years to avoid his rape trial was sentenced Thursday to twice that long behind bars for a 1986 assault on a neighbor.

Alex Kelly, who broke into tears when he was convicted last month, stared straight head and showed no emotion as the judge imposed the 16-year sentence.

“Bye, I love you,” Kelly mouthed to his mother, father and fiancee as he was led away from the courtroom in handcuffs.

Kelly, 30, was denied bail while he appeals his conviction and awaits a second rape trial. He was also given 10 years probation and fined $10,000.

The judge said the case was not about Kelly’s flight from justice.

“This case is about a 16-year-old girl who lost her innocence on a February evening and the traumatic effect it had on two teenagers and their families,” Judge Kevin Tierney said.

Kelly could have been sentenced to a maximum 20-year sentence for raping Adrienne Bak Ortolano, who said she was attacked when she accepted a ride home from Kelly after a party.

She urged the judge to impose the maximum sentence.

Kelly was an 18-year-old wrestling star at Darien High School in the wealthy suburbs of New York City when he was charged with raping two girls four days apart. He still faces trial in the second case.