A former Killen, Alabama, Police Department (KPD) officer, Jarrod Gailen Webster, was sentenced today in the Northern District of Alabama to 15 years in prison. The sentencing follows his conviction for sexually assaulting a woman while on duty and for receiving sexually explicit photographs of a minor.
According to court documents, Webster’s crimes included a severe abuse of power. On November 12, 2023, while a KPD officer, Webster conducted a traffic stop.
During the stop, he asked the female driver what she was willing to do to “get out of this.” When the woman refused to comply with his implicit demand, Webster handcuffed her and proceeded to sexually assault her, thereby violating her civil rights under color of law.
READ: FBI Offers $20,000 Reward In 1999 California Murder Case, Suspect Believed To Be In Mexico
Further investigation revealed that between June 2016 and October 2018, Webster engaged in illicit communication with a minor via phone. He solicited and received multiple sexually explicit images from the minor, at least one of which constituted child sexual abuse material.
Webster pleaded guilty to one count of deprivation of rights under color of law and one count of sexual exploitation of children on March 4, 2025.
Officials strongly condemned Webster’s actions. “Jarrod Webster forcibly assaulted a woman after a traffic stop, and exploited a minor to receive sexually explicit images,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This was a gross abuse of his authority as a police officer and a betrayal of the public trust. I am proud of our DOJ Civil Rights team for holding him accountable.”
READ: Florida Toughens Stance On Animal Cruelty With New Laws Signed By Governor DeSantis
U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona for the Northern District of Alabama stated, “This sentence sends a clear message that such criminal conduct will not be tolerated. I commend the dedication of our law enforcement partners and prosecutors to ensure that Webster was held accountable for his actions.”
Special Agent in Charge David R. Fitzgibbons of the FBI Birmingham Field Office emphasized the breach of trust involved. “Law enforcement officers are entrusted with significant responsibility and are therefore held to a higher standard,” Fitzgibbons said. “Today’s sentencing clearly demonstrates there are serious consequences when someone tarnishes the badge by breaking the law. Jarrod Webster brought shame to the badge by committing the horrific crimes of sexually assaulting a woman in his care and receiving sexually explicit images of a minor. His sentencing confirms that the FBI has zero tolerance for officials who prey on the citizens they are sworn to protect.”
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Connect with us: Follow the Tampa Free Press on Facebook and Twitter for breaking news and updates.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
