District Attorney Collin Sims announces that on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, a St. Tammany Parish jury found 41-year-old Deontrel Jermane Jackson of Slidell guilty as charged for Aggravated Crimes Against Nature. The conviction follows a trial presided over by the Honorable Judge Scott Gardner, involving a victim under the age of 13 and a close relative of the defendant at the time of the offenses.
The investigation, led by the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office Special Victims Unit, began in January 2021. Authorities determined that between 2019 and 2020, Jackson repeatedly entered the bedroom of a juvenile at a residence in Slidell.
The abuse was brought to light after a journal entry was discovered in which the victim expressed distress regarding Jackson’s actions. During forensic interviews conducted at the Children’s Advocacy Center Hope House, the victim detailed a pattern of repeated abuse. The investigation further revealed that the defendant had previously admitted to the conduct, claiming at the time that he was in a "dark place.”
Assistant District Attorneys Gary Tromblay and Taylor Nicholson prosecuted the case. During closing arguments, ADA Nicholson emphasized the defendant’s own admissions.
"An adult cannot touch a juvenile in a sexual manner," ADA Nicholson told the jury. "The defendant's own words were 'I touched her…that was two times.' That's the defendant's own words of what he did to that little girl."
ADA Tromblay addressed the predatory nature of the defendant’s repeated actions during his closing remarks.
"He was going up in her room at night, and he was using that little girl as a sex object, treating her as a toy," Tromblay stated. "He admitted that he was touching that little girl. It was regular, and it was repeated. That little girl deserves justice for what he did. She said she felt betrayed."
Following the verdict, DA Sims commended the prosecution team and the survivor's resolve.
"This verdict delivers justice for a victim who suffered a profound betrayal of safety," DA Sims said. "Our office is dedicated to ensuring that those who prey on children are removed from our community. I want to thank the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office for their thorough investigation and the jurors for their service in this difficult case."
Sentencing before Judge Gardner is scheduled for May 5, 2026. Under Louisiana law, this conviction carries a sentence of 25 to 99 years imprisonment at hard labor without the benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence.
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