Three Houston County, Alabama Residents Sentenced for Kidnapping

           Montgomery, Alabama – Today, United States Attorney Jonathan S. Ross announced that a federal judge in Montgomery, Alabama, sentenced three defendants for kidnapping a minor and transporting her from Alabama to Florida. On May 14, 2024, 20-year-old Molly Michele Jarrett received a sentence of 104 months in prison, 24-year-old Coby Jerome Jordan received a 92-month sentence, and Destiny Star Lewis, also 24-years-old, received a sentence of 70 months in prison. There is no parole in the federal system.

            According to the plea agreements and other court records, late in the evening on November 4, 2022, Jarrett, Jordan, and Lewis picked up their victim from her residence in Dale County, Alabama. They did so under seemingly sociable circumstances. After driving around in rural parts of the Wiregrass area, they made a stop at Jordan’s and Jarrett’s residence in Pansey, Alabama. Eventually, the four decided to go for another drive in the rural parts of the area and stopped at an abandoned structure in Jackson County, Florida. Jordan forced the victim out of the vehicle and began beating her. Jarrett encouraged her to do so.  Eventually, Jarrett directed Jordan to restrain the victim. Jordan used zip ties and duct tape to secure the victim’s ankles and wrists. Lewis assisted Jordan by retrieving those items from inside the vehicle.

            The victim was then loaded back into the vehicle and driven to a secluded area, placed near a tree, and concealed with brush. Jarrett, Jordan, and Lewis returned to Alabama. The victim eventually freed her feet from their bonds and made it to a nearby residence where she was provided with assistance. Earlier this year, Jarrett, Jordan, and Lewis each pleaded guilty to federal kidnapping charges.

            The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Houston County Sheriff’s Office, and the Jackson County, Florida Sheriff’s Office investigated this case, which Assistant United States Attorney Brandon W. Bates prosecuted.