Former South MS cop sentenced to 25 years for sex crimes against 14-year-old boy
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- Former Gautier officer Justin Allday sentenced to 25 years for sexual crimes.
- Judge ordered 25 years day-for-day and lifetime sex-offender registration.
- Prosecutors say Allday solicited minors via Snapchat; DA urges parental vigilance.
A former Gautier police officer has been sentenced to 25 years in prison, to be served day-for-day, for the sexual battery of a 14-year-old boy he met through the social media app Snapchat.
Circuit Judge Kathy King Jackson on Monday sentenced Justin Wayne Allday, 34, of Ocean Springs, to a total of 25 years on one count each of sexual battery and child exploitation. The judge suspended all but 25 years for him to serve and ordered Allday to register as a sex offender for life.
During his plea hearing, Allday admitted to soliciting the child for sex and meeting with him to carry out the crime. Prosecutors said he also used Snapchat to communicate with other minors, including a 15-year-old boy from Alabama, whom he tried to persuade to sneak out of his home to meet for sex.
Assistant District Attorneys George Huffman and Ann Morgan Sullivan prosecuted the case.
“The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office did an outstanding job investigating this case and ensuring that justice was served,” Huffman said. “Most importantly, I want to recognize the incredible bravery of the victim in coming forward and confronting his abuser. It takes real courage to stand up and speak the truth, and because of that courage, our community is safer today.”
Defense attorney Michael Crosby confirmed that Allday had previously worked for the Gautier Police Department and also sold cars at a Gulfport dealership. Gautier Police Chief David Bever said Allday was fired because of complaints filed against him.
At the sentencing, the judge asked Allday if he could remember how many children he had communicated with. His attorney said he could not remember the number of kids he had contacted because of a medical condition, but the judge didn’t buy it.
District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath said the conviction serves as a reminder of the dangers children face online.
“Predators are out there, often hiding behind a computer screen,” McIlrath said. “They lurk around the corners of every social media platform, looking for opportunities to target and exploit children.
“I strongly encourage every parent to know what their children are doing online, who they’re talking to, and what apps they are using. Talk openly with your children about online safety, and report anything that doesn’t seem right. Together we can make sure these predators have nowhere to hide.”
