- Kelley argued with police about the ‘legality’ of offering herself for rides before her arrest
- She previously spent years in and out of Tennessee prisons on drug charges
- Sources say Judd is prepared to take care of Kelley’s two-year-old daughter in case she goes back to prison
The troubled daughter of country music legend Wynonna Judd has been hit with a charge of soliciting for prostitution in addition to two other raps following her arrest in Alabama, DailyMail.com can exclusively reveal.
Grace Kelley, 27, is now accused of holding up a sign on a busy highway reading ‘Ride for a Ride’ while flashing her breasts and other intimate parts of her body, local police chief P.K. Johnson disclosed in an exclusive interview.
The new charge was added as Kelley’s scheduled court appearance in the small city of Millbrook, Alabama, today was reassigned for April 25 – and she remains in jail on $2,000 bond.
Kelley, from Judd’s first marriage in 1996 to businessman Arch Kelley III, was booked into jail on April 5 after two separate incidents with police.
She was initially charged with indecent exposure and obstructing government operations, both misdemeanors.
Grace Kelley, 27, the daughter of country music legend Wynonna Judd, has been charged with soliciting prostitution in Alabama
![Kelley was spotted holding up a sign reading 'A Ride for a Ride' at several businesses along a Millbrook highway](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/04/12/00/83533753-13299353-image-a-23_1712877030554.jpg)
Kelley was spotted holding up a sign reading ‘A Ride for a Ride’ at several businesses along a Millbrook highway
![Police Chief P.K. Johnson told DailyMail.com that Kelley argued with officers, insisting that it was not illegal to 'offer herself in exchange for rides'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/04/12/00/83533599-13299353-image-a-20_1712876880033.jpg)
Police Chief P.K. Johnson told DailyMail.com that Kelley argued with officers, insisting that it was not illegal to ‘offer herself in exchange for rides’
But Millbrook Police Chief Johnson told DailyMail.com: ‘We responded to two calls involving her. In the first, she was observed in the area of businesses on Highway 14 near Murphy Oil by Walmart. She had a sign, displayed that said, “A Ride for a Ride”.
‘And when she made contact with our officers, she argued with them about the legality of what she was doing. And that it was not illegal for her to offer herself in exchange for rides.’
The cops asked her to move on. A short while later police were called to a Circle K gas station on the same highway but closer to Interstate 65.
‘Apparently Kelley went into the store and announced to people inside, including the clerk, that she had possibly been robbed,’ said Johnson.
‘While there, she apparently caused a disturbance with some of the customers. She left prior to our arrival but we made contact with her shortly afterwards.’
Officers found Kelley had moved on to where the highway intersects with the interstate. ‘And by that time she was still displaying the signage,’ said Johnson.
‘She was not appropriately dressed. She didn’t have the things covered that needed to be covered. And she was holding the “Ride for a Ride” sign while she was in that state and with drivers going by, displaying herself.’
He continued: ‘She was argumentative and refused to cooperate in any way with officers who attempted to ID her and find out if there were any outstanding warrants. She was belligerent and argumentative.
‘And at that point, based on what they had dealt with in both contacts, officers made the decision to go ahead and arrest her for initially what was obstruction of governmental operation – that’s refusing to identify herself and her attitude with law enforcement.
‘The other charge was indecent exposure. Now soliciting for prostitution has been added. The extra charge, which is also a misdemeanor, would push her bond up to $3,000.’
![Kelley was first seen in the area of businesses on Highway 14 near Murphy Oil by Walmart](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/04/12/00/83533737-13299353-image-a-24_1712877045469.jpg)
Kelley was first seen in the area of businesses on Highway 14 near Murphy Oil by Walmart
![Following a confrontation with police officers, she moved on to a Circle K gas station along the same highway](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/04/12/00/83533601-13299353-image-a-19_1712876873163.jpg)
Following a confrontation with police officers, she moved on to a Circle K gas station along the same highway
![Johnson said officers decided to arrest her on 'obstruction of governmental operation.' She faces additional charges of indecent exposure and soliciting for prostitution](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/04/12/00/83533739-13299353-image-a-25_1712877054464.jpg)
Johnson said officers decided to arrest her on ‘obstruction of governmental operation.’ She faces additional charges of indecent exposure and soliciting for prostitution
![Kelley is being held at the Elmore County Jail. Her bond is expected to increase to $3000 due to the additional charges](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/04/12/00/83533597-13299353-image-a-21_1712876886766.jpg)
Kelley is being held at the Elmore County Jail. Her bond is expected to increase to $3000 due to the additional charges
Mom-of-one Kelley – who has spent years in jail for drugs offenses – did not have any controlled substances or paraphernalia on her when she was brought in, said Johnson.
However, he added: ‘She might not have had drugs on her at the time she was arrested, but if you look at the booking photo, but it hadn’t been long.’
Kelley’s mother, estimated to be worth $12million from a country music career that has seen her have 19 No. 1 hits, is not believed to have personally contacted Millbrook police and courts about her daughter, the chief said.
Instead, a representative has been in touch with the court ‘inquiring about her to find out what she was charged with and what her condition was’.
He continued: ‘I have not talked with her mother. I have spoken with her father, I believe it was on Monday. He called to check on her and asked the questions you might expect a father to ask about his child.
‘I got the feeling through the conversation that I had with him that he’s very concerned about his daughter. And what it would take to get her out of jail – and what the ramifications of the criminal charges would be.
‘I have dealt with parents in this situation who don’t have the means that these people do. But I don’t think it’s as much about as, what are they going to do? Sometimes it’s about what have they already done to help.
‘I got the feeling in talking with him, and this is just my opinion, that they’ve tried to help her and to no avail to this point. There have probably been many attempts on their part to get this young lady help.’
![Judd is not believed to have personally contacted Millbrook police and courts about her daughter, though her father spoke with the police chief](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/04/12/00/83533467-13299353-image-a-34_1712877114387.jpg)
Judd is not believed to have personally contacted Millbrook police and courts about her daughter, though her father spoke with the police chief
![It is unclear what Kelley was doing in Millbrook, as her last formal address was in Franklin, Tennessee](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/04/12/00/83533751-13299353-image-a-26_1712877066916.jpg)
It is unclear what Kelley was doing in Millbrook, as her last formal address was in Franklin, Tennessee
![The 27-year-old spent years in and out of Tennessee prisons on drug-related charges](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/04/12/00/83533595-13299353-image-m-31_1712877081485.jpg)
![Her rap sheet includes pleading guilty in 2017 to the manufacture, delivery and sale of methamphetamine](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/04/12/00/83533459-13299353-image-a-32_1712877086624.jpg)
The 27-year-old spent years in and out of Tennessee prisons on drug-related charges. Her rap sheet includes pleading guilty in 2017 to the manufacture, delivery and sale of methamphetamine
![Kelley gave birth to her daughter, Kaliyah, while on a temporary leave of absence from jail in March 2022](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/04/12/00/83533449-13299353-image-a-35_1712877120256.jpg)
Kelley gave birth to her daughter, Kaliyah, while on a temporary leave of absence from jail in March 2022
Asked if her father would be visiting his daughter, Johnson said: ‘He can make arrangements to do that and I’ve given him all the information that he needs.’
The chief said he could not speculate on any likely sentence if Kelley is convicted. And he emphasized what he sees as a duty of care by police and authorities to help and safeguard people who fall through the cracks.
‘When we encounter these people, our focus is not necessarily from a law enforcement standpoint,’ he said.
‘We try to ascertain if these people need help and if we can steer them in the right direction. Our concern is for the human being and the person. But we also have to enforce the law.’
While Kelley’s descent from a privileged background has made news for years, Johnson said: ‘I believe the story here is not that a celebrity’s daughter was arrested. I think the story is there are a lot of people out there in this situation.
‘And no matter what their circumstances that got them there, they are there and they need help.’
It is not known what Kelley was doing in Millbrook as she doesn’t appear to have any connection to the area. According to records, her last formal address is in Franklin, Tennessee, where her mother lives with third husband Scott Moser.
Kelley’s rap sheet includes pleading guilty in 2017 to the manufacture, delivery and sale of methamphetamine.
After leaving a court-ordered drug recovery program, she was sentenced to eight years and served time at the Debra K Johnson Rehabilitation Center in Nashville, Tennessee.
However she was paroled in 2019, then found herself in and out of prison again on drugs charges.
While on a temporary leave of absence from jail in March 2022, she gave birth to daughter Kaliyah, now aged two. It has been reported Wynonna has been taking care of the toddler.
![Sources tell DailyMail.com that her famous mother is ¿distraught and powerless¿ over her troubled daughter](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/04/12/00/83533479-13299353-image-a-37_1712877136818.jpg)
Sources tell DailyMail.com that her famous mother is ‘distraught and powerless’ over her troubled daughter
![Kelley had most recently been released from jail in December 2022, but was re-arrested on May 2023 on charges of breaching a restraining order and violating her parole](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/04/12/00/83533491-13299353-image-a-36_1712877132734.jpg)
Kelley had most recently been released from jail in December 2022, but was re-arrested on May 2023 on charges of breaching a restraining order and violating her parole
![After leaving a court-ordered drug recovery program, Kelley was sentenced to eight years and served time at a rehabilitation center in Nashville](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/04/12/00/83533473-13299353-image-a-40_1712877170475.jpg)
After leaving a court-ordered drug recovery program, Kelley was sentenced to eight years and served time at a rehabilitation center in Nashville
![Kelley's two-year-old daughter is reportedly being reared by Judd in her mother's absence. A source says the singer is 'prepared to take care of Kaliyah if Grace goes back to prison'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/04/12/00/83533477-13299353-image-m-39_1712877151067.jpg)
Kelley’s two-year-old daughter is reportedly being reared by Judd in her mother’s absence. A source says the singer is ‘prepared to take care of Kaliyah if Grace goes back to prison’
In 2023, she served a five-month sentence at Putnam County Jail in Tennessee after she was arrested in May of that year for violating parole and an order of protection.
She had been released from jail in December 2022, but was re-arrested on May 1, 2023, on charges of breaching a restraining order and violating her parole.
Meanwhile, her mother is said to be ‘distraught and powerless’ over her troubled daughter according to sources who spoke with DailyMail.com.
‘Wynonna is very distraught over Grace’s arrest because she has been working so hard to reestablish her relationship with Grace. But she feels like there is nothing she can do anymore and she powerless,’ one said.
‘Whenever Grace gets back on track, she falls right off track again and it is a pattern that has no end.’
‘Wynonna is prepared to take care of Kaliyah if Grace goes back to prison again but is praying that this won’t happen.’
‘She just doesn’t know if there is anything else she can do except for what she is doing already.
‘Wynonna truly only wants the best for her and prays for her non-stop, but she does blame herself for Grace’s misfortunes – especially her addiction.
‘Wynonna feels that her fame caused her to not be the best parent that she could have been to Grace growing up.’
Despite her daughter’s serious legal problems, Wynonna called her the ‘strongest Judd woman’ on The Pursuit! With John Rich in 2020.
‘I will tell you this. My daughter is the strongest Judd woman in our ‘herstory,’ Wynonna told Rich.
‘She’s healthier than I was at 23. How she got there – I would not go that way, but I was also sequestered,’ Wynonna told the show’s host.
In 2023, it was revealed that Wynonna has had a rocky relationship with her daughter through the years and in 2013, Wynonna’s actress sister Ashley Judd obtained temporary custody of Grace.
Grace first made in headlines in 2011 at the age of 15 when she disappeared for days when she had a flight layover on her way home from the boarding school she attended.