Chloe Jackson-Jones, 42, received a 40-year prison sentence for 20 offenses, including severe cruelty to her adopted son. (Credit: Coweta County Sheriff’s Office)
NEWNAN, Ga. – A 42-year-old woman from Newnan has been sentenced to 40 years in prison after pleading guilty to multiple counts of child abuse and neglect. The case, highlighted by the Coweta County District Attorney’s Office, centers on the severe mistreatment of her adopted son.
Key Facts:
Chloe Jackson-Jones entered her guilty plea on Wednesday to charges that include aggravated assault-strangulation, two counts of false imprisonment, and 17 counts of first-degree cruelty to children.
The abuse was uncovered on July 5, 2023, when the adopted son, then 11 years old, escaped from a locked closet by tearing through the drywall and climbing out of a second-floor window, according to the district attorney’s office.
Upon escaping, a neighbor saw the child wandering in the street, called emergency services, and offered him food upon learning he was malnourished. Investigators highlighted that the child weighed only 61 pounds at the time of his escape.
Chloe Lyn Jackson-Jones (Credit: Coweta County Sheriff’s Office)
The prosecution aimed for the maximum sentence allowable under the law, emphasizing that a life sentence with the possibility of parole after 30 years would offer less assurance of time served. Additionally, the plea agreement permitted the child to avoid the distress of testifying in court.
Now 14 years old, the victim is thriving in a new adoptive home, excelling academically with straight A’s, and delivered an impactful statement during the sentencing hearing.
Judge Markette Baker imposed the 40-year prison sentence, followed by 20 years of probation, consistent with the terms set forth in the plea bargain.
Background Information:
Chloe Jackson-Jones adopted the victim in May 2019 when he was just 8 years old. Prosecutors noted that the abusive patterns became systematic shortly after, intensifying in 2020 as she withdrew him from public schooling under the guise of homeschooling.
Evidence gathered by investigators, including photos and videos from Jackson-Jones’ phone, revealed numerous acts of severe physical abuse and neglect. The charges outlined horrifying details, including incidences of starvation, forced nudity in stress positions, physical violence, confinement in closets, and other forms of extreme maltreatment.
Unanswered Questions:
Prosecutors have not disclosed whether other individuals resided in the home during the duration of the abuse or if any additional charges might be forthcoming.
Source: This information is based on a press release from the District Attorney’s Office for the Coweta Judicial Circuit.