A Excelsior Springs man will spend the next 19 years in prison after pleading guilty to molesting two children, a resolution that spared the young survivors from having to testify against him in court. Gary Dean Tackett Jr. was sentenced in Excelsior Springs, Missouri, closing out a case that began more than three years ago with his arrest on far more serious charges.
Tackett pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree child molestation involving a victim under 12 and one count of fourth-degree child molestation involving a victim under 17, according to KCTV5. Prosecutors said Tackett abused a position of trust to target and abuse the two children. His guilty plea avoided a trial and prevented the two young survivors from reliving their trauma on the witness stand, the station reported.
Clay County officials said they commend the survivors for their bravery and courage throughout the legal process, per the same account. Assistant Prosecuting Attorney John Creagar led the prosecution for the Clay County Prosecuting Attorney's Office that secured the 19-year sentence in the Missouri Department of Corrections, according to a Facebook post referencing the case.
According to the Missouri Department of Social Services, its Child Abuse and Neglect Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2024 covers reports and referrals made to the Missouri Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline from July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024. According to the Missouri Department of Social Services, training covered in its annual report is intended to improve investigations, prosecutorial responses and victim-advocate assistance in physical and sexual child-abuse cases.
How the Case Began in Excelsior Springs
Excelsior Springs police officers arrested Tackett on April 19, 2023, after a Clay County warrant was issued with a $100,000 cash bond, according to the Excelsior Citizen. He was held at the Clay County Detention Center while awaiting trial. At the time of his arrest, Tackett was initially charged with statutory sodomy or attempted statutory sodomy involving a child under 12, along with fourth-degree child molestation — charges that were later resolved through the plea agreement, the outlet reported.
The Excelsior Springs Police Department conducted the underlying investigation that gathered the evidence leading to Tackett's arrest and eventual conviction. Plea negotiations in cases like this one frequently adjust top charges to secure convictions while avoiding forcing minor victims through trial testimony.
What the Charges Mean Under Missouri Law
Second-degree child molestation is classified as a Class B felony under Missouri Revised Statutes § 566.068, involving sexual contact with a child under 12 or an aggravated sexual offense against a minor under 17 when the offender is more than four years older, according to WomensLaw.org. Fourth-degree child molestation, meanwhile, is designated a Class E felony under Missouri Revised Statutes § 566.071 when a person more than four years older subjects a child under 17 to sexual contact, per Combs Waterkotte.
Class B felony convictions in Missouri carry statutory prison terms of five to 15 years, while Class E felonies carry up to four years, according to Rose Legal Services. Judges may order terms for separate counts to run consecutively, which helps explain how Tackett's 19-year aggregate sentence exceeds the maximum for either charge on its own.
Where the Case Was Heard
All felony criminal cases originating in Clay County are adjudicated through Missouri's 7th Judicial Circuit Court at the James S. Rooney Justice Center in Liberty, Missouri, which serves as the county seat for court operations. Clay County established specialized judicial dockets in October 2023 under Division 3 of the 7th Judicial Circuit Court specifically to expedite sensitive victim-related cases, as Hoodline has previously reported.
Once released from the Missouri Department of Corrections, Tackett will be required to register with local county sheriffs within three days of release and comply with state sex offender tracking mandates, according to the Andrew County Sheriff's Office. Missouri operates a public, tiered sex offender registry monitored by the state highway patrol and county sheriffs statewide.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Missouri's registration official reviews a registrant's offense and applicable information before assigning a tier under Section 589.414 of the Missouri Revised Statutes. The Missouri State Highway Patrol says its public Sex Offender Registry can be searched by entering at least one known criterion, such as a name, date of birth or address.
