A former police officer from Killen, Alabama, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for violating civil rights and child sexual exploitation. Jarrod Gailen Webster, aged 27, was sentenced by United States District Judge Liles Burke after pleading guilty to charges stemming from incidents that occurred while he was on duty.
The court documents revealed that on November 12, 2023, Webster violated the civil rights of a woman during a traffic stop. He asked the woman to exit her vehicle and suggested inappropriate actions to avoid legal trouble. When she refused, Webster handcuffed and sexually assaulted her.
Additionally, between June 2016 and October 2018, Webster engaged in inappropriate communication with a minor via phone. He requested and received sexually explicit images from the minor, including material classified as child sexual abuse.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon stated: “Jarrod Webster forcibly assaulted a woman after a traffic stop, and exploited a minor to receive sexually explicit images. This was a gross abuse of his authority as a police officer and a betrayal of the public trust. I am proud of our DOJ Civil Rights team for holding him accountable.”
U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona emphasized the significance of the sentence: “This sentence sends a clear message that such criminal conduct will not be tolerated. I commend the dedication of our law enforcement partners and prosecutors to ensure that Webster was held accountable for his actions.”
Special Agent in Charge David R. Fitzgibbons of the FBI Birmingham Field Office remarked: “Law enforcement officers are entrusted with significant responsibility and are therefore held to a higher standard. Today’s sentencing clearly demonstrates there are serious consequences when someone tarnishes the badge by breaking the law.”
The investigation was conducted by the FBI Birmingham Field Office, with prosecution led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Royster for the Northern District of Alabama and Trial Attorney Sarah Howard from the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section.
