A Sacramento man will likely spend the rest of his life behind bars after a jury convicted him of trying to sexually assault two women at the Target on J Street in Midtown last spring. On Friday, a Sacramento Superior Court judge sentenced him to 121 years to life in prison for the attacks in April and May 2025.
Judge Delivers Staggering Prison Term
According to the Sacramento County District Attorney's Office, Judge Tami Bogert imposed the 121-years-to-life sentence after a jury on Nov. 19, 2025, convicted 50-year-old Jevis Julian Jones of kidnapping with intent to commit sexual assault, two counts of assault with intent to commit sexual assault, two counts of false imprisonment, sexual battery, and false impersonation. A subsequent bench trial found true allegations that Jones had two prior strike convictions and was on parole at the time of the offenses, which stacked additional decades onto his sentence.
Inside the Midtown Store During the Attacks
The first assault unfolded on April 30, 2025, when prosecutors say Jones followed a woman who worked as a janitor into a supply closet, grabbed her, and fled only after she screamed, the Sacramento Bee reports. The second attack, on May 3, 2025, involved another woman who was grabbed from behind and forced toward the back of the store until Target employees stepped in and intervened, according to the Bee.
How Investigators Tracked the Suspect
Investigators initially contacted a man after the first incident but cited and released him when he gave officers his brother's name, according to the District Attorney's Office. Police later arrested that brother, then used store surveillance video to identify Jevis Jones as the suspect and arrested him near the Target. Prosecutors say Jones had been out of prison for only six days at the time, was absconding from parole, and later gave a statement admitting his involvement.
Retail Safety Fears Amid Crackdowns
The case landed at a time when law enforcement and big-box chains across the region have been ramping up enforcement efforts at Target and other retailers to combat organized theft. Those crackdowns have brought a wave of arrests and stepped-up patrols, according to KCRA. For many local workers and labor advocates, the Midtown attacks have also underscored long-standing worries about staff safety in crowded, often understaffed stores.
Why the Sentence Stretches Past a Lifetime
The 121-year figure is not just about the new convictions. Prosecutors and reporting say the combination of the jury verdicts, Jones's admissions, and the finding that he had two prior convictions counted as strikes triggered sentencing enhancements that ballooned the punishment into effectively a life term, as outlined by the Sacramento Bee. For background on how repeat-offender rules can sharply increase penalties under California law, see FindLaw.
