Chaneya Kelly, who accused her father of rape at age 9, recants GOSHEN, N.Y., Aug. 20 (UPI) -- A young woman says she lied as a child 15 years ago in upstate New York when she testified that her father had raped her. Chaneya Kelly, 24, is now trying to win her father's freedom, NBC News reports. She said she accused her father, Daryl Kelly, because her mother, Charade, threatened to beat her if she continued to deny her father had molested her. Daryl Kelly was arrested in October 1997, turned down a plea bargain and was convicted at trial and sentenced to 20 to 40 years in prison. His daughter, who was then living with her grandmother, Pat Thomas, recanted her story soon afterwards and his wife submitted an affidavit backing her up. The trial judge found that Chaneya's recantation appeared to be coerced. "I'm 24 years old and I made this mistake when I was 9 years old," Chaneya told NBC News, "but it's never too late to try and right your wrong. " Prosecutors had no forensic evidence proving Chaneya's father had raped her. A medical examination also determined she was still a virgin, even though she said her father completed the sexual act. At the time, the family, living in Newburgh, N.Y., was a troubled one. Daryl Kelly was trying to overcome a drug habit, while his wife had turned to prostitution to feed her own addiction. Charade Kelly, now off drugs, says she no longer remembers why she wanted her daughter to say she had been molested. Frank Phillips, who has been the district attorney in Orange County for three decades, defends the original conviction. He says Chaneya's credibility was tested at trial and recantations in this kind of case are common. Kelly has denied his guilt since his arrest. The case is now being reviewed, and Phillips has recused himself. When she was 15, Chaneya was allowed to visit her father in prison. She says he hugged her and told her he did not blame her for his conviction. "All I think is, 'One day the truth will set me free,'" said Kelly, now held in Green Haven Correctional Facility. All I have to do is hold on.