A Denton County jury yesterday sentenced 25-year-old Jordan Hagen to 40 years in prison and ordered 10 years of probation after convicting him on a string of child-sex charges tied to the 2024 rescue of a teenage girl. Authorities said the victim and members of her family took the stand during the trial.
In a Facebook post, the City of Denton Police Department said Hagen was found guilty of two counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child, trafficking of persons, online solicitation of a minor, indecency with a child, and possession or promotion of lewd visual material. According to the post, courts assessed $4,000 in fines on each count and ordered that the 10-year probation term follow the prison sentence.
How Officers Located the Victim
The case traces back to August 2024, when Frisco police asked Denton officers to help find a missing 15-year-old who reported that she was being held in Denton. She shared her location with law enforcement, and officers found her at an apartment in the 1700 block of West Oak Street, where Hagen was arrested without incident, according to The Dallas Morning News. Investigators later said the two had met in an online chatroom and communicated through encrypted messaging apps, as reported by KWTX.
Trial, Testimony and Sentence
During the trial, prosecutors called the victim and her family to testify, and a Denton County jury convicted Hagen on all of the counts outlined by police. The City of Denton Police Department post states that investigators alleged Hagen tried to sell the victim online for $4,000 and that the Denton County Criminal District Attorney’s Office assisted in the prosecution. The post also notes that fines of $4,000 were assessed for each charge.
Legal Implications
Under Texas law, aggravated sexual assault is classified as a first-degree felony that can carry a punishment of five to 99 years or life in prison, according to Texas Penal Code §22.021. Trafficking of persons is prosecuted under Chapter 20A and can be charged as a first-degree offense with enhanced punishment ranges in certain situations, per Texas Penal Code §20A.02.
The Denton Police Department publicly thanked the Frisco Police Department and the University of North Texas Police Department for assisting with the rescue, a detail reported by KWTX, and local prosecutors say the sentence reflects the gravity of the crimes. Court records should show the precise breakdown of the fines and how the prison and probation terms will be ordered; this story may be updated if the Denton County Criminal District Attorney's Office releases a statement or files documents that add clarity.
