Gallatin Resident Sentenced to Prison

A Gallatin man has been sentenced to prison in a Daviess County case.

Seventy-two-year-old Jimmy Ishmael was initially charged in December 2022 with child molestation, three counts of forcible sodomy, enticement of a child, two counts of first-degree sodomy or attempted sodomy, first-degree endangering the welfare of a child creating substantial risk, and first-degree harassment. The charges resulted from allegations from 2013 to 2021.

Law enforcement issued a probable cause statement accusing Ishmael of grooming and sexually exploiting young girls for many years. Officers say their investigation resulted in the discovery that he provided marijuana and alcohol to one of the teen girls and her friend. It is also alleged that he took photos of another victim while she was naked in a tanning bed at his residence.

Charges against Ishmael were amended by the Daviess County Prosecuting Attorney to the class D felony of endangering the welfare of a child in the first degree.  Ishmael entered a guilty plea to the single count in April.  On Tuesday he was sentenced to the Missouri Department of Corrections.  Ishmael had been free on bond.  He was taken into custody awaiting transport to prison.