A Horn Lake man will spend the next four decades behind bars after a DeSoto County jury convicted him on multiple child sex charges, prosecutors said Tuesday. Jamison Leggett, 41, was found guilty of sexual battery of a minor, fondling, and child exploitation. Officials say he must register as a sex offender if he is ever released and will not be eligible for parole or early release.
Conviction and Sentence
DeSoto County District Attorney Matthew Barton announced that Jamison Leggett received a combined 40-year sentence following his convictions for sexual battery of a minor, fondling, and child exploitation. According to Action News 5, the court ordered that Leggett will have no chance at parole or early release and will be required to register as a sex offender once his time is served. Prosecutors said they went after the toughest penalties available under Mississippi law for the charges.
DA's Statement
“This sick individual is going exactly where he belongs, and I fully expect and hope he does not outlive his sentence,” District Attorney Matthew Barton said, according to Action News 5. Barton added that the conviction should serve as a warning to anyone who targets children in DeSoto County. The DA's announcement came from Hernando, where county prosecutors handled the case.
Local Context
The sentence lands amid a recent run of stiff penalties pushed by DeSoto County prosecutors, reflecting a local drive for lengthy terms in violent and sexual crime cases. a separate 40-year sentence in Horn Lake was recently reported in connection with a 2025 shooting, and DeSoto County News covered another 40-year term last year in an attempted murder case prosecuted by Barton's office. Together, the cases highlight the district attorney's current emphasis on long prison stretches for serious offenses in the county.
Legal Note
Crimes like those in this case typically come with decades-long prison terms and sex offender registration requirements, with the formal sentencing order and court records detailing the exact counts and any conditions after release. Officials say Leggett will begin serving his 40-year sentence immediately.
