District Attorney J. Collin Sims announced today (October 7, 2026) that the Honorable Judge Tara Farris Zeller sentenced 25-year-old Kaelan Jackson of Slidell, Louisiana, to 10 years in prison, the maximum penalty allowed by law, following his felony Sexual Battery conviction by a St. Tammany Parish jury on June 25, 2026.
Assistant District Attorneys Iain Dover and Taylor Nicholson prosecuted the case after an investigation by the Slidell Police Department.
The conviction stems from a December 20, 2023 incident at the U-Haul facility on Gause Boulevard in Slidell, where both Jackson and the victim were employed. During facility checks, Jackson trapped the victim from behind, held her throat, and sexually assaulted her. Following the attack, the victim preserved crucial evidence by documenting text messages in which Jackson explicitly admitted to making her uncomfortable.
During the trial, prosecutors showed that Jackson's written admissions and actions established his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, while highlighting the victim's bravery in gathering evidence and coming forward.
In a victim impact statement submitted through the District Attorney's Victim Assistance Coordinator, the survivor shared the lasting impact of the assault and urged the court to hold the defendant accountable:
"This case has stretched on for three years. In that time, I have struggled to find consistent work where I feel safe," the victim wrote. "I respectfully request that when the court considers an appropriate sentence, the decision be guided not only by justice for me, but also by the safety of the public, the prevention of future harm...and, most importantly, genuine reform in this individual's behavior and mindset."
"This maximum sentence holds this individual accountable for a predatory act in the workplace," said District Attorney Collin Sims. "I want to commend the victim for her courage in standing up for herself, as well as ADAs Iain Dover and Taylor Nicholson and the Slidell Police Department for their thorough work in securing justice."
After the June verdict, Judge Zeller remanded Jackson to the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office, where he remained until today’s sentencing.
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