BRENHAM MAN SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON

  

A Brenham man was sentenced to life in prison yesterday (Thursday) in District Court.

Larry Jackson, 49 of Brenham, was found guilty by a jury of Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Young Child and Indecency with a Child by Exposure. The punishment trial before the court was held Thursday before Judge Corbett. Jackson was sentenced to life in prison, and 20 years on Indecency with a Child.

Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Young Child is a specially categorized felony. It allows the State to charge a person for committing two or more sex acts against a child under 14 during a period of more than 30 days in duration. The punishment range is 25-99 years, or life, in prison, and up to a $10,000 fine. There is no parole for this offense. Indecency with a Child by Exposure is a third-degree felony, carrying a punishment range of 2-10 years in prison, and up to a $10,000 fine, however, due to Jackson’s previous conviction for Aggravated Robbery, the punishment range was enhanced to a second degree, 2-20 years.

The case was indicted in July of 2019 after an outcry to a school counselor triggered an investigation by the Brenham Police Department. Disclosures made during an interview at the Scotty’s House Child Advocacy Center revealed approximately five years of continuous sexual abuse by Jackson. During his interview with Detective Ashley Burns, Jackson admitted to two incidents, but attempted to mitigate his involvement by blaming the victim.

During the trial the State presented expert testimony from Scotty’s House medical staff and forensic interviewer, as well as the school counselor. The defendant’s 3-hour statement to law enforcement was played for the jury, as was the victim’s forensic interview. The victim testified to all the abuse that was disclosed as well as events not previously mentioned.

The defendant testified in his own behalf denying every allegation. He claimed the confession was coerced, and testified that he only admitted what he did because he was tired, wanted to “keep his family safe,” and was afraid of “street justice”. In response to cross-examination on what the sentence should be if the jury believed all the evidence against him, Jackson answered “life without parole.”