A Mississippi man faces up to 45 years in prison for sexually assaulting a minor who was living in the same home as him at the time of the crime.
Madison and Rankin Counties’ District Attorney Bubba Bramlett announced Thursday that James Matthew Gardner, 26, was convicted by a Rankin County jury following a two-day trial last week.
Back in September 2023, authorities in Rankin County received a call to a home regarding a juvenile sexual assault victim. It was reported that the abuse took place at the unidentified victim’s residence. The victim disclosed that Gardner was living at the home during the years of sexual abuse. The victim and a sibling were interviewed by the Parker’s Children’s Advocacy Center in Pearl.
After the Children’s Safe Center in Jackson conducted a medical exam on the victim, law enforcement officials interviewed the defendant and others. Search warrants for electronics, the defendant’s home, and the defendant’s vehicle were executed. Police also took photographs and retrieved physical evidence from the house that the victim shared with the defendant.
The physical evidence was sent to the Mississippi Forensics Lab for processing and testing. The jury heard from the victim, the victim’s sibling, two investigators with the Rankin County Sheriff’s Department, a nurse practitioner from the Children’s Safe Center who examined the victim, and two forensic scientists with the Mississippi Forensics Lab. Gardner testified on his own behalf.
After hearing the testimony over two days, the jury found Gardner guilty of one count of sexual battery and one count of gratification of lust. The potential penalty for sexual battery is up to 30 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine. The potential penalty for gratification of lust is two to fifteen years and a $1,000 to $5,000 fine.
“This is a case where the victim lived with the unreported abuse by Gardner for years,” DA Bramlett said. “We are thankful for the work of the multitude of agencies and law enforcement personnel involved in helping get this victim justice and getting this pedophile off the streets. Our office will continue to fight for and protect our children from abuse.”
Judge Steve Ratcliff will sentence Gardner on June 23. The suspect will be required to register as a sex offender and have no contact with the victim. Any sentence imposed on Gardner will be served day for day without the possibility of parole or early release.
