Jarrett Paul Proctor sentenced to 20 years
Dan Eakin
editor@silsbeebee.com
The Silsbee Bee
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A new jury created only for the sentencing phase Tuesday afternoon sentenced Jarrett Paul Proctor, 40, who had been convicted by a jury in May.
The new jury was created last Monday morning and convened at 9 a.m. Tuesday in the court of 356th District Court Judge Steve Thomas.
After deliberations by the prosecutor and defense attorney, the case went to the jury about 4 p.m. The jury deliberated for about an hour and then sentenced Proctor to 20 years for solicitation of a minor and 10 years for grooming.
In early May, a jury found Proctor guilty of online solicitation of a minor and child grooming, but was acqitted on two counts of sexual assault of a child and one count of indecency with a child.
Proctor lived in Kountze at the time charges were filed in December 2023, but also had lived in Silsbee and in other parts of Hardin County.
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Previously Reported
Sentencing retrial underway for minor solicitor Jarrett Paul Proctor
KOUNTZE — A new jury convened Monday in the 356th Judicial District Court to determine the punishment for a Hardin County man convicted of child grooming and online solicitation of a minor, following a mistrial in the original sentencing phase.
Jarrett Paul Proctor, 40, was found guilty in early May on two felony counts related to a Dec. 29, 2023 incident involving a minor under the age of 17. A Hardin County jury convicted Proctor of online solicitation of a minor
Jarrett Paul Proctor
and child grooming but acquitted him of two counts of sexual assault of a child and one count of indecency with a child by sexual contact.
The original jury was unable to reach a unanimous decision during the sentencing phase, resulting in a hung jury and a mistrial. Under Texas law, criminal trials are bifurcated, meaning that guilt is determined in one phase and punishment is decided in a separate trial if the defendant is found guilty. The new jury will now be tasked solely with deciding Proctor’s sentence.
According to court records, the charge of online solicitation of a minor was enhanced from a third-degree to a second-degree felony because Proctor was found to have sent messages to the victim during school hours. The enhancement increases the sentencing range from two to 10 years to two to 20 years in prison.
The child grooming charge, a third-degree felony, carries a penalty of two to 10 years in prison. Proctor will be eligible for parole after serving at least one-fourth of the total sentence imposed in this case. If he had been convicted on the sexual assault charges, parole eligibility would have required serving at least half of the sentence.
The case is being prosecuted by Jefferson County Assistant District Attorney Tommy Coleman, who was appointed as a special prosecutor. Beaumont-based attorney Ryan Gertz is representing Proctor during the retrial.
The charges against Proctor stem from a December incident in which investigators allege he engaged in a series of inappropriate communications and conduct with the minor. The case was tried in Hardin County, with evidence presented that included digital communications and testimony from law enforcement.
The retrial on sentencing began with jury selection on Monday and is expected to continue this week. Judge Steve Thomas is presiding over the proceedings. The sentencing jury must reach a unanimous decision to impose a sentence.
This is the latest development in a case that has garnered attention due to the nature of the charges and the jury’s prior inability to agree on punishment. Further updates will be provided as the court proceedings continue.
