44-Year-Old Man Sentenced to 40 Years for Sexual Battery and Gratification of Lust of Three Children
Rankin County – Madison and Rankin Counties’ District Attorney Bubba Bramlett announced that Sonny Jacob Lee, 44, pled guilty to Sexual Battery and Gratification of Lust. Lee was sentenced to forty (40) years in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections, with the first twenty-five (25) of those years to be served without the possibility of early release or parole. Upon his release, Lee will be placed on supervised probation for an additional five years and must register as a sex offender. Lee was further ordered to have no contact with the victims and no unsupervised visitation with any child under the age of 18 unless otherwise ordered by a Chancellor or Youth Court.
On January 14, 2025, the Pearl Police Department responded to a call regarding a child sexual assault victim. The Pearl Police Department conducted an in-depth investigation, which included a forensic interview of the child by the Parker Children’s Advocacy Center in Pearl. This forensic interview process allows trained specialists to gather information from child victims in a manner that minimizes additional trauma. During the interview, the child disclosed details of the sexual abuse by Lee.
Further investigation revealed Lee had sexually abused two other children. The Parker Children’s Advocacy Center conducted forensic interviews with these children as well, and the children disclosed details of the abuse. The UMMC Children’s Safe Center also performed medical examinations of the children.
"These three children showed true bravery in standing up to their abuser," stated District Attorney Bramlett. "Our office fights to bring all child predators to justice. The continued collaborative effort of the Pearl Police Department, Mississippi Children's Advocacy Center, and the UMMC Children's Safe Center is to be commended because their hard work put this child predator behind bars."
Defendant:
Name: Lee, Sonny Jacob
Date of Birth: 5/12/1981
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