A Montgomery County jury has sentenced 70-year-old Jerry Lynn Robertson to life in
prison without the possibility of parole following his conviction for Continuous
Sexual Abuse of a Child Under 14. The jury delivered the sentence on Tuesday,
October 13, 2026, after hearing testimony detailing years of grooming, manipulation,
and sexual abuse that began when the victim was just five years old.
The case was tried in the 9th District Court before Judge Phil Grant. Chief Prosecutor
Tamara Tyler and Assistant District Attorney Criss Cole prosecuted the case.
Evidence presented at trial revealed how Robertson maintained two vastly different
personas: a caring, trustworthy figure in public and an abuser who used secrecy,
manipulation, and threats behind closed doors. For nearly eight years, Robertson
exploited the child’s trust, using affection, attention, and favors to gradually violate
boundaries and normalize his abuse. Witnesses described a deliberate pattern of
grooming that allowed Robertson to manipulate the victim’s understanding of what
was acceptable while concealing his crimes.
In February 2025, after gaining distance from Robertson and receiving support from trusted individuals, the victim
disclosed the abuse, prompting a law enforcement investigation.
The survivor later took the witness stand, sitting just feet away from Robertson as she described the years of abuse and
manipulation she endured. In doing so, she gave a voice to the little girl who had been too afraid to speak, confronting the
man that had counted on her silence for years. Her testimony, supported by additional witnesses and evidence, exposed the
calculated pattern of control that had kept her silent throughout much of her childhood. During punishment, jurors also
heard evidence that Robertson had begun exhibiting grooming behaviors toward another young girl shortly before his
arrest.
After finding Robertson guilty, the jury deliberated for less than 15 minutes before delivering a sentence of life without
parole.
Chief Prosecutor Tamara Tyler stated:
“This defendant spent years manipulating a child into believing his abuse was normal. It wasn’t. He exploited her trust,
distorted her understanding of the world, and counted on her silence. But she found the courage to stand before a jury and
tell the truth. This jury listened, weighed the evidence, and held him accountable. His age did not determine this sentence.
His actions did.”
District Attorney Mike Holley stated:
“This defendant robbed a child of the safety and innocence she deserved, and he will now spend the rest of his life paying
for it. I commend this young woman for her remarkable courage and the jury for ensuring justice was served. Those who
prey on children should never mistake the passage of time for an escape from justice. Protecting children is not simply a
priority for this office. It is a responsibility we will never compromise.”
The Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office remains committed to seeking justice for victims of child abuse and
holding those who exploit children accountable.
