Dewayne Jackson pleads guilty to sexual battery

A Shreveport man on trial for sexual battery of a girl under the age of 13 pleaded guilty as charged in Caddo District Court Tuesday, April 14, 2026, just moments after his jury was sworn, opening statements were made and the first witness against him started to testify.

Dewayne Ray Jackson, 61, will return before District Judge Donald E. Hathaway Jr. June 29, 2026, and faces a prison term of at least 25 years at hard labor, and up to 99 years, at the judge's discretion.

In 2019, the child and her mother moved in with the maternal grandmother, who was in an intimate relationship with Jackson, who spent most of his time at the home. In 2021, the child reported that the defendant had begun calling her his girl, which made here uncomfortable. The girl complained to her grandmother after Jackson touched her inappropriately, but the grandmother allowed Jackson to remain in the home. Later, Jackson forced the child into a sex act. The child’s mother reported the incident to police and the girl described the molestation in a recorded forensic interview at the Gingerbread House. That led to Jackson's arrest in October 2023.

Assistant District Attorneys Jason Waltman and Chase Burgess prosecuted Jackson. He was represented by the Caddo Public Defender's office.

The case was docket No. 398215.