A Franklin man who turned the county juvenile detention center into his personal demolition project will spend three years in prison, followed by a year of work release. Today, Jacob Dhondt was sentenced after admitting he drove a pickup into the secured lobby of the Dickinson Juvenile Justice Center in Franklin during a crash last May, prosecutors said.
According to WTHR, Judge Riggins handed down the sentence after Dhondt pleaded guilty to criminal mischief and criminal recklessness. Prosecutors told the court that Dhondt first drove past the building, peered into the lobby, then circled back and plowed into the secured entrance. Court filings show that more serious charges were dropped as part of a plea agreement.
Crash Put Youth And Staff At Risk
Authorities say the impact came just before noon on May 11, 2025, when Dhondt’s truck slammed through the front vestibule of the Dickinson Juvenile Justice Center. The tailgate carried a "Fathers Matter" message, and officials reported that roughly 24 juveniles and about six staff members were inside at the time. County workers pegged the damage at around $100,000, and Sheriff Duane Burgess labeled the incident "an appalling and deliberate act of violence," according to WRTV.
Man Told Officers He Was Protesting A Custody Ruling
Investigators say Dhondt told officers he was furious with the local court system and that he had been blocked from seeing his 13-year-old son, which he described as the reason for his dramatic protest. Police arrested him at the scene, and prosecutors later charged him with institutional mischief and criminal recklessness, local coverage notes. WISH reported that Dhondt also had an outstanding Shelby County warrant tied to alleged drug activity.
Sentence, Prior Convictions And Prosecutor Response
In a news release cited by WTHR, Johnson County Prosecutor Lance Hamner called the crash "an act of intimidation" against public servants and urged the General Assembly to look at tougher penalties for attacks on public buildings. WTHR also reported that Dhondt had recently been on home detention for a Shelby County possession case and was credited with 467 days already served. Hamner said the outcome reflects how seriously the county views threats to facilities that house children and staff.
What’s Next
County officials quickly boarded up and repaired the front entry of the detention center after the crash so daily operations could continue, and staff reported no life-threatening injuries among youth or employees. The case now moves into the post-sentencing phase to ensure Dhondt serves the court-ordered time and to wrap up any remaining civil or administrative fallout, local reports note. WRTV reported that once repairs were completed, the facility returned to normal duties.
