TACOMA, WA – A former U.S. Army soldier stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord was sentenced Friday to 25 years in federal prison for the sexual abuse of multiple young children—some as young as three years old. The abuse, which spanned from 2010 to 2014, only came to light years later after several victims found the courage to speak out.
Jonathan Gentry, 36, previously served two years in military prison following a 2013 court-martial for molesting two 13-year-old girls. But in the years that followed, four more victims—who were between 3 and 11 years old at the time of the abuse—came forward with graphic and devastating accounts of long-term sexual abuse, coercion, and threats.
U.S. District Court Judge David G. Estudillo handed down the 25-year sentence during a somber hearing in Tacoma, telling Gentry, “The victims were helpless children. You were the monster that was living with them. You scarred these victims for the rest of their lives.”
A Pattern of Exploitation and Threats
According to court documents, Gentry used threats of violence and harm against his victims and their families to keep them silent. The abuse often involved forcing alcohol on the children, strangulation, and isolating them during sleepovers or periods of unsupervised care.
In one 2013 incident, Gentry allegedly gave alcohol to a victim and another young girl. Once they were inebriated and asleep, he carried the victim into another room where he continued the assault, ignoring her attempts to escape.
The sexual abuse left lasting psychological scars. One victim reported nearly daily assaults until they graduated kindergarten. Others described night terrors, crippling anxiety, and severe difficulty trusting others.
Delayed Justice
Though Gentry’s 2013 conviction resulted in a brief military sentence, it wasn’t until 2020—seven years later—that additional victims came forward. By 2024, a total of six known victims had been identified, most of whom had been left in Gentry’s care while he lived on JBLM.
In December 2024, a federal grand jury indicted Gentry on multiple charges, including five counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a minor. He ultimately pleaded guilty in July 2025 to three counts of abusive sexual contact with a minor and one count of sexual abuse of a minor.
Despite a request from his defense attorney for supervised release in lieu of additional prison time—citing the passage of time and Gentry’s willingness to avoid putting victims through a trial—Judge Estudillo rejected any leniency.
“A Prolific Child Pedophile”
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zach Dillon and Kristine Foerster argued that Gentry’s actions made him a danger to the community. They called him a “prolific child pedophile” and emphasized that time spent out of custody doesn’t erase the harm caused or guarantee that more victims don’t exist.
“Defense will likely argue for a lower sentence because Gentry has been in the community allegedly ‘crime free,’” prosecutors wrote. “But the truth is, we have no idea whether Gentry has other victims considering he successfully scared at least these four victims into silence for over ten years.”
During the hearing, three of the victims gave statements describing the lifelong damage they now carry.
“My innocence was taken. My childhood was taken,” one victim said.
“No amount of time he serves can compare to the loss of our childhood and the years that were stolen from us,” said another.
A Failed Protector
The case was investigated by the FBI Seattle field office. Special Agent in Charge W. Mike Herrington issued a statement after the sentencing, saying:
“Mr. Gentry, as a former servicemember, had a responsibility to defend the vulnerable, not exploit them.”
He praised the victims for their “steadfast resolve” in coming forward to hold Gentry accountable.
After serving 25 years, Gentry will remain under supervised release for an additional 20 years.
A National Epidemic, One Predator at a Time
Federal prosecutors emphasized that Gentry’s crimes are not isolated, but part of a broader national epidemic of child sexual abuse. They pointed to long-documented research highlighting the lifelong trauma inflicted by such abuse—including increased risks of suicide, addiction, and mental illness.
For these survivors, the road to justice was long and painful—but their voices finally broke through the silence Gentry tried to impose through fear. Now, he’s behind bars for decades, a cautionary reminder that time doesn’t erase trauma—and silence does not equal consent.
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