Content warning: This article describes incest and sexual abuse. Please take care while reading.
Former Hancock County Commissioner John Jessup faced justice after his conviction for attempting to sexually assault his daughter, Rachel Keesling, during a Las Vegas trip for her 21st birthday. On April 25, 2025, a Nevada court sentenced Jessup to six to fifteen years in prison. The case has shocked Indiana residents and garnered outrage nationwide.
According to the New York Post, Jessup, 56, took Keesling to Las Vegas in January 2024 to celebrate her 21st birthday. According to prosecutors, Jessup provided Keesling with multiple alcoholic beverages, including potent Long Island iced teas. Once Keesling became intoxicated and incapacitated, Jessup assaulted her in their shared hotel room at the Treasure Island Hotel and Casino.
During the sentencing hearing, Keesling bravely delivered a victim impact statement. Fighting back tears, she told the court, “Since my biological father sexually assaulted me on Jan. 26 last year, my life feels like it’s shattered.”
Keesling also revealed that she has since changed her last name to distance herself from her father and has sought intensive therapy to cope with PTSD, depression, and anxiety.
Reportedly, Jessup told police “nothing criminal” happened, and said it was just a “f—ed up, drunk night.”
“Fathers are supposed to protect their children”
Former Indiana republican county commissioner John Jessup has been sentenced to 6-15 years in prison for raping his own daughter.
— 𝐁𝐞𝐤𝐬 (@antifaoperative) April 27, 2025
Jessup took his daughter to Vegas for her 21st birthday, got her drunk & raped her in a hotel room. pic.twitter.com/FFCK4ljP3r
Jessup, who initially denied all charges, had already stepped down from his seat on the Hancock City Council before sentencing. Despite the charges hanging over him, Jessup managed to get elected before resigning under public pressure and legal scrutiny.
Deputy District Attorney Morgan Thomas condemned Jessup’s behavior in court, saying, “Fathers are supposed to protect their children. They’re not supposed to violate them when they are vulnerable.”
The assault came to light after Rachel Keesling reported the incident to Las Vegas Metropolitan Police. Investigators obtained surveillance footage showing the pair at hotel bars, and medical evidence supported Keesling’s account. Prosecutors argued that Jessup exploited his daughter’s intoxicated state.
Jessup got the maximum sentence
Judge Tierra Jones imposed the maximum sentence allowable under the plea deal. Jessup must serve at least six years before he becomes eligible for parole. The judge also ordered Jessup to register as a sex offender and banned any future contact with his daughter or other family members.
Community reaction has been swift and unforgiving. Residents in Hancock County, where Jessup once held significant political influence, expressed outrage at both the crime and the fact that Jessup maintained political ambitions even after the allegations surfaced.
Keesling, now 22, continues to rebuild her life. In her court statement, she said, “I hope no other child ever experiences what I have. Speaking out was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but silence would have destroyed me.”
If you know someone suffering from sexual violence, contact RAINN or the National Sexual Abuse Telephone Hotline at 1-800-656-4673
Published: Apr 28, 2025 01:00 pm