A Montgomery County jury has sentenced 70-year-old Jerry Lynn Robertson to life in prison without the possibility of parole following his conviction for Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child Under 14.
The jury delivered the sentence on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, after hearing testimony detailing years of grooming, manipulation and sexual abuse that began when the victim was just 5 years old.
The case was tried in the 9th District Court before Judge Phil Grant. Chief Prosecutor Tamara Tyler and Assistant District Attorney Criss Cole prosecuted the case.
Evidence presented at trial revealed how Robertson maintained two vastly different personas: a caring, trustworthy figure in public and an abuser who used secrecy, manipulation and threats behind closed doors.
For nearly eight years, Robertson exploited the child’s trust, using affection, attention and favors to gradually violate boundaries and normalize his abuse. Witnesses described a deliberate pattern of grooming that allowed Robertson to manipulate the victim’s understanding of what was acceptable while concealing his crimes.
In February 2025, after gaining distance from Robertson and receiving support from trusted individuals, the victim disclosed the abuse, prompting a law enforcement investigation.
The survivor later took the witness stand, sitting just feet away from Robertson as she described the years of abuse and manipulation she endured. In doing so, she gave a voice to the little girl who had been too afraid to speak, confronting the man who had counted on her silence for years.
Her testimony, supported by additional witnesses and evidence, exposed the calculated pattern of control that had kept her silent throughout much of her childhood. During the punishment phase, jurors also heard evidence that Robertson had begun exhibiting grooming behaviors toward another young girl shortly before his arrest.
After finding Robertson guilty, the jury deliberated for less than 15 minutes before delivering a sentence of life without parole.
Chief Prosecutor Tamara Tyler said afterward, “This defendant spent years manipulating a child into believing his abuse was normal. It wasn’t. He exploited her trust, distorted her understanding of the world, and counted on her silence. But she found the courage to stand before a jury and tell the truth. This jury listened, weighed the evidence, and held him accountable. His age did not determine this sentence. His actions did.”
District Attorney Mike Holley added, “This defendant robbed a child of the safety and innocence she deserved, and he will now spend the rest of his life paying for it. I commend this young woman for her remarkable courage and the jury for ensuring justice was served. Those who prey on children should never mistake the passage of time for an escape from justice. Protecting children is not simply a priority for this office. It is a responsibility we will never compromise.”
The Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office reaffirmed its commitment to seeking justice for victims of child abuse and holding those who exploit children accountable.