Gulfport man gets 20 years for sexual abuse of girls

Roosevelt Jones

From Media reports

GULFPORT – A 40-year-old Gulfport man will spend 20 years in prison – day for day – for the sexual abuse of two girls, ages 7 and 9. Roosevelt Jones was sentenced in Harrison County Circuit Court after pleading guilty to one count each of sexual battery and touching of a child for lustful purposes.

Roosevelt Jones

Judge Larry Bourgeois sentenced Jones to 25 years and suspended five years, leaving 20 to serve, followed by five years of probation.

Under state law, Jones is not eligible for early release because of the nature of the crimes, and he must register as a sex offender the rest of his life.

Gulfport police arrested Jones on Feb. 21 on complaints involving the two girls.

Assistant District Attorney Alison Baker said Jones was a friend of the family. Jones confessed to a police investigator, she said.

Baker said the judge had this to say in court: “With friends like you, Mr. Jones, none of us need any enemies. You have earned every day of this sentence.”

District Attorney Joel Smith said Jones committed “unspeakable” crimes that “will traumatize these victims the rest of their lives. Our office will continue to focus on the protection of children and taking those who prey upon them off of our streets.”