John Jessup, a former Hancock County commissioner in Indiana, was sentenced on Thursday to 6 to fifteen years in jail after pleading responsible to tried sexual assault of his daughter throughout her twenty first birthday journey to Las Vegas in January 2023.
In keeping with court docket paperwork, Jessup took his daughter Rachel Keesling to Harrah’s Las Vegas, the place they drank and gambled. Prosecutors mentioned Jessup inspired her to proceed ingesting regardless of her feeling unwell and supplied her with three Lengthy Island iced teas. After taking her to a strip membership, Keesling turned so intoxicated that she needed to be returned to the resort in a wheelchair.
Keesling later awoke of their resort room to seek out her father sexually assaulting her. Jessup stopped when she started to maneuver. He was initially charged with sexual assault however entered a plea settlement with the Clark County District Lawyer’s Workplace, lowering the cost to tried sexual assault.
As a part of the plea deal, Jessup should serve a minimal of six years in jail, register as a intercourse offender, and is barred from contacting his daughter or different relations for all times.
“Since my organic father sexually assaulted me on January 26 final yr, my life feels prefer it’s shattered,” Keesling mentioned in court docket throughout her assertion earlier than sentencing. She mentioned she publicly recognized herself after Jessup was elected to the Hancock Metropolis Council regardless of the fees.
“I’m processing lots proper now in all features,” she mentioned after the choice, including that she has modified her final identify and continues to take care of the psychological affect of the assault.
Jessup, 50, was nonetheless serving as county commissioner when the incident occurred and later ran for metropolis council whereas the fees have been pending. He has since resigned from his elected place. In court docket, he mentioned, “I’m not the identical man I used to be.”
“Fathers are supposed to guard their kids. They’re not presupposed to violate them when they’re weak,” mentioned Deputy District Lawyer Morgan Thomas.
