Tennessee man gets 98 years for years-long child sexual abuse
MILLERSVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) — A Tennessee man will spend nearly a century behind bars after being convicted of sexually abusing a young girl for years.
Sumner County prosecutors said Ian Dakota Jarrett, age 30, was convicted in August after a three-day trial for continuous sexual abuse of a child, aggravated sexual battery and sexual abuse of a child, aggravated sexual battery and sexual exploitation of a minor.
Judge Dee David Gay sentenced Jarrett to 98 years in the Tennessee Department of Correction with no chance for probation, parole or early release.
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The case started in November 2024 when a 10-year-old girl told a trusted adult that Jarrett had been abusing her.
That adult quickly contacted the Tennessee Department of Children's Services, which teamed up with the Millersville Police Department to investigate.
Investigators said the girl described how Jarrett began grooming her when she was eight by showing her pornography on his phone.
Over the next two years, Jarrett's actions escalated to inappropriate touching and other sexual contact until the girl finally spoke up after struggling with the emotional effects of the abuse.
The investigation included a forensic interview at Ashley's Place, Sumner County's Child Advocacy Center and support from Department of Children's Services Case Worker Hailey Ghadiri and OurKids Medical Clinic.
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Jarrett was not eligible for the death penalty, but Judge Gay's sentence means he will spend the rest of his life in prison.
Prosecutors said the outcome was possible because of the courage of a 10-year-old girl and the adults who believed and supported her.