Mugshot of John A. Jackson. Photo Credit: THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT
A federal jury on Friday returned guilty verdicts on all six counts of child sexual abuse and child pornography production charges against St. Thomas boxer John Jackson, who in February 2019 was arrested by federal authorities. As a result of the verdict, Jackson faces 15 years to life in prison.
Federal prosecutors played a V.I. Police Department interview with Jackson in court on Thursday, where Jackson confessed to having sex with a 15-year-old victim identified with the protected alias Jane Doe 1. He also said the victim gave him oral sex on his birthday. At the time of the crimes, Jackson was 30 and is currently 33 years old. The jury was also shown video footage of Jackson having sex with the victim. The video was recorded by Jackson, according to the victim — information that was shared with the court by Special Federal Agent Michael Fogle of the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security.
The six counts, seen here, include production of child production, with federal prosecutors stating that Jackson persuaded, induced and enticed Jane Doe 1 to have sex with him "for purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct..."
He was also charged with transportation with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. Federal prosecutors provided evidence that showed that between July 2017 and January 2018, Jackson knowingly transported or caused to be transported another female victim, whose identity is being protected by being referred to as Jane Doe 3, with the intent that the minor female engage in sexual activity.
Count three was the same as count two and involved Jackson knowingly transporting another minor female victim, identified as Jane Doe 3, with the intent that the minor female engage in sexual activity.
Count four, which like counts two and three involved Jackson's transportation of underage female victims to engage in sexual activity, was tied to the transportation of Jane Doe 1, a 15-year-old minor at the time.
Counts five and six are first-degree rape and second-degree aggravated rape, respectively.
Jackson is a well-known boxer in the Virgin Islands and comes from a prominent family in St. Thomas. In August 2015, he won an important bout against Dennis Laurente of Manila in the opener of a two-match super welterweight tournament. All three judges scored the fight 100-89. In July 2016, however, Mr. Jackson was knocked out in the eighth round during a boxing match with opponent Jermell Charlo.
He was first arrested by the V.I.P.D. on Tuesday, Feb. 7 2019, where he was charged with second-degree aggravated rape after the father of a 15-year-old minor told police that Jackson had sexual intercourse with his minor daughter. The federal government took over the case and charged Jackson with several other related offenses, including production of child pornography.
District Court Chief Judge Robert Molloy presided over the case. The prosecution included U.S. Assistant Attorneys Natasha Baker, Jill Koster and Donna Rainwater. Jackson was represented by Attorney Yohanna Manning.
Correction | April 23, 2022 at 2:19 p.m.: A previous version of this article stated that Jackson faces 10 years to life in prison. However, Jackson faces 15 years to life in prison, not 10 years to life. The story has been updated to reflect the correct information.
