After 2025 Hung Jury, Retrial Delivers Life Sentence for Randall County Child Offender

RANDALL COUNTY, Texas — A Randall County judge has sentenced John Jacob Wilson to life in prison without parole following his conviction for continuous sexual abuse of a young child, the Randall County District Attorney’s Office announced.

Following a three-day retrial in the 47th District Court, a jury deliberated for just 31 minutes on Thursday, September 17, 2026, before returning a guilty verdict against Wilson for Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Young Child, a first-degree felony in Texas carrying a punishment range of 25 years to life without eligibility for parole. Wilson elected to have Judge Dee Johnson determine his punishment, who imposed the maximum sentence of life in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ).

2022 School Outcry and Investigation

The criminal investigation began in 2022 when the young victim made a courageous outcry to a Canyon ISD school counselor. The counselor immediately reported the disclosure to law enforcement, initiating an investigation by the Amarillo Police Department’s Special Victims Unit.

The victim and her siblings were interviewed at The Bridge Children’s Advocacy Center. During trial testimony, the victim described the abuse she endured and the profound impact on her life after coming forward. Evidence presented during the trial also revealed that the victim’s mother was aware of the abuse, instructed the child not to tell anyone, failed to notify authorities, and ultimately kicked the victim out of the home after she sought help. Charges against the mother were accepted by the District Attorney’s Office but were subsequently declined by a grand jury.

2025 Hung Jury and Successful Retrial

The case originally went to trial in 2025, but that proceeding ended in a hung jury when jurors were unable to reach a unanimous verdict during the guilt phase. After consulting with the victim and ensuring she agreed to move forward with another trial, the Randall County District Attorney’s Office elected to retry the case.

The District Attorney’s Office expressed gratitude to the victim for her perseverance throughout both trials, as well as the collaborative efforts of Canyon ISD staff, the Amarillo Police Department, The Bridge Children’s Advocacy Center, the S.A.N.E. nursing program, and DA investigators and prosecutors.