A St. Louis jury has convicted 38-year-old Jeilani Haji on 19 felony sexual offense charges involving three minors, in crimes that unfolded over 15 years between 2004 and 2019. The jury also found Haji to be a predatory sexual offender, a designation reported to carry a sentence of life imprisonment.
The St. Louis Circuit Attorney's Office announced the verdict Wednesday, according to firstalert4.com. The crimes involved three minors, two of whom were related to Haji, the outlet reported. As FOX 2 reported, the offenses took place in the JeffVanderLou, Columbus Square, and Bevo Mill neighborhoods of St. Louis, and charging documents indicate Haji sexually assaulted three victims younger than 17 years old.
Conflicting Accounts of a Victim's Age
The two outlets covering the case offered differing details about one victim's age at the time of the crimes. Per firstalert4.com, one of the victims was younger than 14, one was younger than 17, and another was younger than 12. FOX 2, however, reported that one victim was 12 years old at the time of the crimes.
The jury's guilty verdicts covered a wide range of charges: one count of first-degree forcible rape, one count of attempted first-degree forcible rape, three counts of first-degree statutory rape, and four counts of second-degree statutory rape, according to firstalert4.com. Jurors also convicted Haji on one count of first-degree child molestation, two counts of fourth-degree child molestation, and seven counts of incest.
Prosecutor Points to Survivors' Courage
St. Louis Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore said the victims' courage made the prosecution possible and ensured their voices were heard. Gore added that he hoped the verdict would provide the victims with a measure of justice and encourage other survivors to come forward.
What Comes Next in Sentencing
Haji's sentencing hearing is scheduled for January 25, 2027, when the court will determine the minimum period he must serve before he becomes eligible for any sort of early release, per the same firstalert4.com report. The predatory sexual offender finding is reported to require a sentence of life imprisonment. Under the relevant statute cited by the Missouri Revisor of Statutes, a person found to be a predatory sexual offender shall be imprisoned for life with eligibility for parole.
A separate statute cited by the Missouri Revisor of Statutes addresses what happens if an appeal is filed: neither probation nor parole shall be granted by the circuit court between the filing of the appeal transcript and the appellate court's disposition of the appeal, according to the agency's published text on RSMo Section 559.115.
