A Jefferson City man has been sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty to first-degree child molestation.
60-year-old Gary Owens was sentenced Monday by Judge Cotton Walker.
The investigation began in March 2024 after a family member under 14 told police Owens had sexually abused them since they were seven years old.
Court documents said Owens’ statements to investigators aligned with the victim’s account and timeline.
He was initially arrested on multiple charges, including child molestation, sodomy, child endangerment, and incest, before later pleading guilty to one count of first-degree child molestation in April.