Home » John Jessup Sentenced for Assaulting Daughter in Las Vegas

John Jessup Sentenced for Assaulting Daughter in Las Vegas

Ex-Commissioner Gets Up to 15 Years for Assault on 21st Birthday

by Sophia Bennett

Former Hancock County Commissioner John Jessup, 56, was sentenced to six to fifteen years in prison on April 25, 2025, after being convicted of attempting to sexually assault his daughter, Rachel Keesling, during a trip to Las Vegas to celebrate her 21st birthday.

The high-profile case has sparked nationwide outrage and stunned Indiana residents, where Jessup once held significant political power.

Prosecutors said Jessup supplied his daughter with several alcoholic drinks, including Long Island iced teas, rendering her intoxicated before assaulting her in their shared room at the Treasure Island Hotel and Casino in January 2024. Surveillance footage and medical evidence supported Keesling’s report to Las Vegas Metropolitan Police.

During the emotional sentencing hearing, Rachel Keesling, now 22, delivered a powerful victim impact statement, saying, “Since my biological father sexually assaulted me on Jan. 26 last year, my life feels like it’s shattered.” She revealed that she has since changed her last name and undergone intensive therapy to deal with PTSD, depression, and anxiety.

Though Jessup initially denied the allegations, he eventually resigned from the Hancock City Council under public pressure and ahead of sentencing. Judge Tierra Jones imposed the maximum sentence allowed under the plea agreement, also ordering Jessup to register as a sex offender and have no future contact with his daughter or family.

Deputy District Attorney Morgan Thomas strongly condemned Jessup’s actions, stating, “Fathers are supposed to protect their children. They’re not supposed to violate them when they are vulnerable.”

Jessup will be eligible for parole after six years.

Keesling continues to rebuild her life and hopes her story empowers others. “Speaking out was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but silence would have destroyed me,” she told the court.

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