Former USVI Olympic boxer fights for appeal in child predator case
CHARLOTTE AMALIE, St Thomas, USVI— Former boxing star John A. Jackson is seeking leave to appeal his conviction on rape and child pornography charges, and the return of his property.
After a lengthy trial in federal court, Jackson was sentenced this February to 25 years in prison for his sex crimes against minor girls. Presiding Judge Robert Molloy, at the time, excoriated Jackson for his misdeeds, and rejected his claims that he did not know that his victims were under the age of consent.
“Your actions were the classic actions of a child predator,” said Judge Molloy as he handed down his sentence. “The bad significantly outweighs the good you have done,” Mr. Molloy said, referencing Jackson’s past boxing career and his national representation of the U.S. Virgin Islands at the 2008 Summer Olympics.
Apart from the 25-year sentence, Jackson was also ordered into supervised release for the rest of his life following his period of incarceration.
At the beginning of this month, the convicted sex offender wrote to Judge Molloy, asking for leave to file an appeal in the matter. His attorney, Mr. Jackson said, had not obeyed his instructions to file the appeal while the parties awaiting the court’s written judgment. “Thus, I am writing this letter of waiting to file an appeal on my case to the Third Circuit Court of Appeal,” he wrote.
He also wants property seized during a search warrant returned, “since my case is over.”
The Appeals Court has decided, however, to wait until Judge Molloy’s judgment and commitment order is published before hearing any appeal on Jackson’s case. His letter did not outline any potential grounds for the appeal, and thus is it not currently clear which decisions of fact or law Mr. Jackson is challenging.
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