Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray announced today that Kelly Whitney, a former Seton Hall University basketball player, pleaded guilty today to the 2010 home invasion burglary of an off-campus residence in South Orange occupied by Seton Hall University students.

Whitney, 28, of Chicago pleaded guilty to burglary, criminal restraint, and conspiracy to commit burglary and is expected to be sentenced to three years in New Jersey state prison when he is sentenced on Nov. 7 by the Honorable Alfonse Cifelli, J.S.C.

Following a trial in May, Judge Cifelli declared a mistrial on June 1 after the jury said it was hopelessly deadlocked.

Under the terms of the plea agreement, Whitney will be sentenced under the No Early Release Act which means he must serve 85 percent of his sentence before he is eligible for parole. In his case, that would be 30.6 months. He must also serve three years probation after his release from prison.

“The victims bravely confronted Kelly Whitney during the trial,’’ said Assistant Prosecutor Christopher Ruzich, who tried the case. “Today’s guilty plea demonstrates that Whitney was not ready to face his victims again.’’

“These college students suffered through a very dangerous and distressing assault,’’ said Assistant Prosecutor Ari Schneider, who tried the case with Assistant Prosecutor Ruzich. “Whitney will now have to face the serious penal consequences for assaulting these young men and women,’’ Assistant Prosecutor Schneider added.

According to the trial testimony, Whitney along with his co-defendant, Robert “Styx” Mitchell, who was then a current member of the Seton Hall Basketball team, entered the college students’ off-campus apartment located at 240 Irvington Avenue in South Orange. The two defendants duct-taped the students and ransacked the apartment taking cash and other valuables.

At least one of the men brandished a handgun during the attack, according to the victims. The two fled the scene before the police arrived. One of the eight students who was tied up and robbed testified that he would never forget Whitney’s face.

Mitchell, who pleaded guilty earlier and testified on behalf of the state, described Whitney as the mastermind of the robbery.

Whitney was arrested after the robbery at a hotel near Newark Airport. He was there with his girlfriend.

Acting Essex County Prosecutor Robert D. Laurino today announced that an Essex County Grand Jury returned a 29-count indictment against former Seton Hall University basketball players Kelly Whitney, 27, of Chicago and Robert Mitchell, 23, of Brooklyn.

They are charged with eight counts of kidnapping, eight counts of aggravated assault, burglary, robbery and weapons offenses. If convicted of all charges, both could be sentenced to more than 30 years in prison.

The indictment alleges the men entered a home on Irvington Avenue in South Orange and kidnapped and robbed eight people at gunpoint on Monday, March 15, 2010. They allegedly took credit cards, cell phones, debit cards, drivers’ licenses, digital cameras and approximately $300 in cash.

Mitchell was arrested on March 16, 2010 when South Orange police officers spotted him in the vicinity of South Orange Avenue and Poe Avenue in Newark. Whitney was arrested on March 18, 2010 at a Newark hotel.

These are mere accusations. All defendants are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Both men are still incarcerated.

Former Seton Hall University student and basketball player Kelly Whitney, 27, of Chicago entered a not guilty plea at an arraignment today, Monday, March 22, 2010 in Newark before the Honorable Amilkar Velez-Lopez on charges stemming from a robbery on March 15, 2010 in South Orange.

Current student and former basketball player, Robert Mitchell, 23, of Brooklyn, N.Y., was arraigned last Thursday, March 18, 2010 before the same judge in the case.

The judge set bail at $650,000 for Whitney and ordered a bail source hearing. The judge also ordered Whitney to have no contact with witnesses and victims involved in the case and to stay away from the Seton Hall University campus.

Along with Mitchell, Whitney allegedly entered a residence located on Irvington Avenue in South Orange on Monday, March 15, 2010 and forced occupants to move from various rooms into a common area where they were forced at gunpoint to turn over their cash and personal items.

Various items, including credit cards, cell phones, drivers’ licenses, debit cards, digital cameras and approximately $300 in cash, were taken. Mitchell and Whitney then allegedly fled the scene in a vehicle that has since been recovered.

Mitchell was arrested on March 16, 2010 and charged with kidnapping, burglary and weapons offenses. Whitney was arrested at approximately 11 p.m. on March 18, 2010 at a Newark hotel. He was charged with eight counts of kidnapping, eight counts of aggravated assault, robbery, burglary and weapons charges.

Acting Essex County Prosecutor Robert Laurino announced today, Friday, March 19, 2010, the arrest of former Seton Hall basketball player Kelly Whitney, 27, of Chicago in connection with the South Orange robbery allegedly involving Robert Mitchell, another former Seton Hall player and current student.

Whitney was arrested at approximately 11 p.m. last night at a Newark hotel. He was charged with eight counts of kidnapping, eight counts of aggravated assault, robbery, burglary and weapons charges.

Whitney and Mitchell allegedly entered a residence located on Irvington Avenue in South Orange on Monday, March 15, 2010, forcing the eight occupants of the home to move from various rooms into a common area where they forced them at gunpoint to turn over their cash and personal items.

Credit cards, cell phones, debit cards, drivers’ licenses, digital cameras and approximately $300 in cash were among the items allegedly taken.

Mitchell was arrested on Tuesday when South Orange officers spotted him in the vicinity of South Orange Avenue and Poe Avenue in Newark.

In addition to the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, the South Orange Police Department and the United States Marshals Task Force participated in the arrest.

Bail for Whitney was set at $650,000 by the Honorable Amilkar Velez-Lopez, JMC. Both Mitchell and Whitney remain in custody in Essex County. Whitney’s arraignment has been tentatively scheduled for Monday, March 22, 2010.

Members of the press seeking to bring cameras into the courtroom must contact the Trial Court Administrator’s Office at 973-693-5701.

These are mere accusations. Defendants are considered innocent until found guilty in a court of law.