by Hunter Dawkins, Owner/Publisher – editor@thegazebogazette.com or hdawkins@supertalk.fm
GULFPORT (GG) — This week, RJ Sanders, from Pass Christian, Mississippi pled guilty to four counts of Sexual Battery. After accepting the guilty plea, Circuit Court Judge Lisa Dodson sentenced Sanders to four Life sentences to run concurrently in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections. Sanders will have to serve his sentence day-for-day, without the possibility of parole.
The investigation began when the Pass Christian Police Department received a report of sexual abuse committed by Sanders.
“The Pass Christian Police Department, in partnership with the Gulfport Police Department, conducted an outstanding investigation which revealed that RJ Sanders sexually assaulted the minor children between the years of 2013 and 2021 in both Pass Christian and Gulfport, while he was entrusted with the care and supervision of the victims when their parents were at work,” stated Assistant District Attorney Haley Broom, who prosecuted the case on behalf of the State of Mississippi. “Sanders would watch the children by taking them for ice cream, playing dress up, making music videos, but unbeknownst to others, he was secretly molesting the children behind closed doors. The abuse remained hidden for years until one victim disclosed it to a family member, and then the history of abuse began to unravel as other victims came forward. The minor victims were also forensically interviewed at Children Advocacy Centers, where they detailed the abuse,” stated Broom.
Sanders was set for jury trial the week of January 12, 2026; however, he entered his guilty plea prior to pretrial motions. During the plea hearing, Sanders admitted his guilt, but offered little remorse. Before imposing four Life sentences, Honorable Judge Lisa Dodson commented “this is one of the worst cases I’ve seen”.
“Sanders violated the trust and safety of these victims and their families. The victims’ strength in breaking years of silence has ensured accountability and these convictions. While nothing will ever erase the harm suffered by these innocent children, we hope these convictions provide the victims a measure of healing and justice for their courage in coming forward,” stated Broom.
