VALDOSTA, Ga. (WTXL) - A few months ago, two South Georgia parents were arrested after police say they left their daughter in a hot car while they were inside a restaurant.
After being released, the father, Timothy Kelly, went on camera stating he wanted to apologize for his actions.
On July 31st, Timothy Kelly and his girlfriend Jessica Brown were arrested after police say they left their 3-year-old daugther in a car for 20 minutes with the engine turned off and the windows up. Fortunately, his daughter was okay.
But after Kelly was released from jail, he says he lost everything he had. Everything from his girlfriend, daughter, job and home.
"When we got arrested it pretty much stopped our whole world, how we were living," said Kelly. "We lost a lot."
Kelly attended court today for his first arraignment in the case. It was decided by the courts to drop the charge of family violence. He now has to seek legal counsel for the reckless conduct charge.
Kelly says he's now in a much better place than he was just a few short months ago.
"Whenever you make a mistake that you don't think that you're going to be able to get by, people usually quit or give up," Kelly explained. "But I've come to learn if you don't quit and you don't give up or accept defeat, you can make it through."
Kelly has since reunited with Jessica Brown, his daughter's mother. He says they are going through counseling with DFACS to try and get their daughter back.
"We did request individual counseling," said Kelly. "I did request PTSD counseling for things that happened in our situation for as bad as things did get."
Kelly says he hopes others going through this situation stay strong.
"Even in the darkest days, there's still hope," Kelly asserted. "Don't quit, don't give up and never accept defeat."
Jessica Brown has not had her day in court. She faces charges of family violence and reckless conduct.
