Slidell Man Found Guilty of Sexual Battery

On Thursday (June 25, 2026), a St. Tammany Parish jury found 25-year-old Kaelan Jackson of Slidell, Louisiana, guilty as charged of felony Sexual Battery. The trial was held before the Honorable Judge Tara Farris Zeller. The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Iain Dover and Taylor Nicholson, following an investigation by the Slidell Police Department.

The conviction stems from an incident on December 20, 2023 at the U-Haul facility on Gause Boulevard in Slidell, where both Jackson and the victim were employed. While conducting facility checks, Jackson trapped the victim from behind, held her throat, and forced his hand down her pants to sexually assault her. The victim froze in fear during the attack. Following the incident, the victim documented text messages from Jackson in which he explicitly apologized for making her uncomfortable, providing crucial evidence to investigators.

During the trial, the state successfully argued that Jackson’s own words and actions cemented his guilt, despite his later denials to law enforcement.

In opening remarks, ADA Dover highlighted the contradictions in the defendant’s statements: "The defendant convicts himself. He admits to everything except that of which he cannot admit to - the touching of the vagina." ADA Nicholson reinforced this in closing arguments, addressing the defense's attempts to deflect from the evidence:

"Admit what you cannot deny, and deny what you can't admit. He acknowledged that he made her [the victim] uncomfortable. The defendant's text message stated, 'I figured I was making you uncomfortable, that's why I stopped.' He shoved his hands down the victim's pants and rubbed her vagina. The defense would have you think this is all smoke and mirrors. It's not smoke and mirrors - it's facts. We have proved that to you beyond a reasonable doubt."

In his rebuttal, ADA Dover commended the victim's resolve and thoroughness in securing justice for herself: "There's a whole lot of damned if you do - damned if you don't. She [the victim] collected too much evidence; she was too thorough in what she did to protect herself. If you want to be held credible, you'd better bring the receipts - and that's what she did. She fought for herself, spoke for herself, and collected evidence."

Following the verdict, District Attorney J. Collin Sims praised the bravery of the victim and the diligence of the trial team. "This verdict is a testament to the courage of a survivor who refused to stay silent and took immediate action to protect herself and preserve the evidence of her assault," said DA Sims. "Our office has zero tolerance for predatory behavior in the workplace or anywhere else in our community. I want to commend ADAs Iain Dover and Taylor Nicholson, as well as the Slidell Police Department, for their meticulous work in ensuring this dangerous individual is held fully accountable under the law."

Following the verdict, Judge Zeller remanded Jackson to the custody of the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office. Sentencing is officially scheduled for August 25, 2026.