Federal Investigators Believe John Jackson May Have Had Inappropriate Sexual Interactions With Two Other Female Minors

Last updated: Feb. 26, 2019 at 10:53 a.m.

ST. THOMAS — John Jackson, 30, appeared on Monday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller for a preliminary and detention hearing after his arrest on Saturday by Homeland Security Investigations (H.S.I.) for Production of Child Pornography, United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced. 

Mr. Jackson remained in custody pending trial after the U.S. Magistrate Miller concluded that the weight of the evidence again the professional boxer was “ strong.” Mr. Jackson was arrested by the Virgin Islands Police Department earlier this month after admitting to raping a 15-year-old minor at his residence. 

According to court records, Mr. Jackson allegedly transported a fifteen year old minor to his residence after picking her up near a school. During the hearing, held on Monday morning, investigators told the court that Mr. Jackson had recorded a video of the minor with her cellular phone while having sex. The sixteen-second recording was shown to the minor by investigators, where she confirmed that it was her and Mr. Jackson in the clip. 

iPads and phones were confiscated from Mr. Jackson’s residence along with a firearm that was found in a safe. Assistant U.S. Attorney General Everard E. Potter and investigators had not concluded if Mr. Jackson had a firearm license at Monday’s preliminary hearing. The minor told investigators that Mr. Jackson showed her the clip after they had sex and she asked him to delete it. Mr. Jackson then agreed to delete the video, and then sent a copy to his phone. 

Prosecutors brought the new charges of child pornograpy based on information the minor female provided. 

Agents with HSI told the court that the video was recovered from the minors phone and that there was geolocation data linking the video on the minors phone to an area near Mr. Jackson’s residence on January 18. Mr. Jackson is a known Olympian who has represented the USVI in Europe in the past. 

The minor mentioned to the VIPD that she felt taken advantage of, adding that she had been introduced to Mr. Jackson by another fifteen year-old female friend. HSI agents believe that Mr. Jackson also had inappropriate sexual interactions with two other female minors, ages fifteen and seventeen. Because this was only a preliminary hearing, no new information was revealed about the two minors that were not previously mentioned after his first arrest. 

The female minor also told HSI agents and the VIPD that Mr. Jackson had given her 3 joints (marijuana) and bought her two drinks at The Rum Hut in Havensight on another occasion. Mr. Jackson’s defense team rebutted this, adding that he did not buy her drinks. Investigators also alleged that Mr. Jackson had given the minor $40. In the courtroom, details on who bought the drinks and what the $40 the minor received from Mr. Jackson was used for were not clear, as evidence obtained was still being reviewed by investigators. 

During the hearing, U.S. Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller suggested that a substantial bond agreement would be required as well as location monitoring used and other restrictions if Mr. Jackson were to be released pending trial.

This case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Virgin Islands Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Everard E. Potter. 

Two weeks ago, The Virgin Islands Consortium published a bombshell editorial, submitted by a local journalist that described his high school experience with sexual assault and predatory behavior from men, including a male VIPD officer that the editorial said pursued several teenage boys at the Ivanna Eudora Kean High School between 2009 and 2011. 

A statement released days later by Senator Donna Frett-Gregory said, “For too long, we as a community have looked the other way while our children suffer in silence.” It added that, “Conversations around sexual consent have become taboo and we have subconsciously contributed to a rape culture…” Mrs. Frett-Gregory’s statements come at a time when the USVI is grappling with sexual assault incidents involving children and teenagers. Sheleen Gumbs of the Women’s Coalition and Khnuma Simmonds of the VI Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Council visited VI Consortium to talk about sexual assault and rape in the U.S. Virgin Islands following the editorial. The discussion was enlightening and included information relative to how Virgin Islanders can help make a difference.

Mr. Jackson’s defense attorney argued that he had cooperated with the investigation since being released two weeks ago and should be released, adding that the professional boxer had already paid a substantial $75,000 cash bond in the Superior Court. The assistant attorney general rebutted, stating that two weeks does not mean that Mr. Jackson wasn’t a flight risk due to the nature of the charges brought against him. 

In August 2015, Mr. won an important bout against Dennis Laurente of Manila in the opener of a two-match super welterweight tournament. All three judges scored the fight 100-89. In July 2016, however, Mr. Jackson was knocked out in the eighth round during a boxing match with opponent Jermell Charlo. 

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Potter The new charges are being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Virgin Islands Police Department. The VIPD and HSI have not decided which department will take over the case following the new charges. Assistant United States Attorney Potter told the court that Mr. Jackson is now charged with second-degree aggravated and child pornography and that the attorney general would determine which department oversees the investigation and subsequent trial. 

United States Attorney Shappert reminds the public that an arrest warrant is merely a formal charging document and is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. Suspected child exploitation or missing children cases may be reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children via its toll-free 24–hour hotline at 202-514-5678, or to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) at (787) 729-6969.