Brookland man receives prison time for sexual assault

JONESBORO, Ark. (KAIT) - A judge sentenced a Brookland man to 15 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a child.

Second Circuit Judge Randy Philhours sentenced 51-year-old Gary Don Jones on Monday, June 17, to 180 months in the Arkansas Department of Corrections with an additional 60 months of suspended imposition of sentence after Jones pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree sexual assault. The judge also sentenced Jones to 72 months SIS after he pleaded guilty to one count of sexual indecency with a child.

Upon his release from the ADC, Jones will have to register as a sex offender and pay all court costs and fees in $50 monthly installments.

Philhours also ordered Jones to have no contact with the victim.

Jonesboro police arrested Jones in 2021 after the victim reportedly told an agent with the Arkansas State Crimes Against Children Division that Jones had exposed his genitalia to them and forced them to perform a sexual act.

According to the affidavit, the child victim was on the autism spectrum and had the mental functioning capacity of a second grader.

Jones was initially charged with rape, sexual indecency with a child, and second-degree sexual assault.

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