Jonathan Bailey could serve only 2.4 years for soliciting sexual exploitation of a minor

Story by Shannon Taylor, Senior Investigative Reporter

Between the dates of Sep. 12, 2019, and May 13, 2020, 21-year-old Jonathan Kyle Bailey did unlawfully, feloniously and knowingly distribute and/or exchange more than 25 pieces of material which included a minor engaged in sexual activity and simulated sexual activity.

Bailey was indicted by the Grand Jury of Weakley County and charged and convicted of soliciting sexual exploitation of a minor, a Class B Felony, which carries a penalty in the State of Tennessee of 8-30 years and up to $25,000 in fines.

Bailey was arrested Feb. 16, 2022, after the indictment was filed on Jan. 4, 2022, and judgement was entered April 10, 2023.

While Bailey was sentenced to 8 years in the Tennessee Department of Corrections, he only has to serve 30% of that time before he’s eligible for parole, according to the Judgement entered and signed by Judge Jeff Parham and Counsel for the State, Kate Bynum. Bailey was represented by David Hamblen out of Union City, TN.

Because of only having to serve 30% of his sentence before parole eligibility, Bailey could only serve 2.4 years in Weakley County Jail for his crime and could be released as soon as Sep. 2025.

Bailey is required under TN law to register as a sex offender upon his release even though that wasn’t checked on the judgement entered. He was also required to provide a biological specimen for the purpose of DNA analysis.

In 2022, Tennessee Legislature passed “Truth in Sentencing Act” making it to where most prisoners would serve 85-100% of their time with no parole. Under this bill, there will be no release eligibility for a person committing an offense, on or after July 1, 2022, that is enumerated below. The person will serve 100 percent of the sentence imposed by the court undiminished by any sentence reduction credits the person may be eligible for or earn. The person will be permitted to earn any credits for which the person is eligible, and the credits may be used for the purpose of increased privileges, reduced security classification, or for any purpose other than the reduction of the sentence imposed by the court.

An amendment to the bill states that under present law there is no release eligibility for a person committing certain offenses on or after July 1, 1995. The person must serve 100 percent of the sentence imposed by the court less sentence credits earned and retain; but sentence reductions credits will not reduce the sentence imposed by more than 15 percent and that the provision applies to rape, aggravated sexual battery, aggravated child abuse, sexual exploitation of a minor, and especially aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor if the offense was committed on or after July 1, 1995, and before July 1, 2021.

With Bailey’s crime being committed between 2019 and 2020, his crime would fall under the 85% bill. It is unclear on why his judgment accounts for only 30% time served. The Press reached out to the District Attorney’s Office and are awaiting a response.

DISCLOSURE: Information obtained came from the Weakley County Circuit Court indictment and judgement documents on the above-mentioned criminal.