ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. (WAVY) — A former Hertford town councilman has been sentenced to decades in prison for multiple sexual offenses including statutory rape.
In July, Quentin Sherard Jackson, 39, pled guilty to one count of statutory rape, two counts of statutory sexual offense, two counts of first-degree sexual exploitation and two counts of taking indecent liberties with a minor child.
“Anyone that has worked in the criminal justice system will tell you, sex offense cases are the hardest to prosecute. Thankfully, the victim and her mother were strong and stayed true to the end,” said District Attorney Jeff Cruden.
According to Cruden, in the weeks leading leading up to his sentencing, Jackson attempted to discredit the victim’s account and the evidence against him. However, the victim’s statement, DNA recovered from the victim’s underwear and shorts, along with photos and videos recovered from Jackson’s phone lead the court to sentence him to 23 to 32 years in prison, the maximum allowed by law.
At the time of the crimes Jackson was 36-years-old and the victim was 15-years-old.
In 2018, Jackson was accused of punching a fellow councilman in the face.