PRATTVILLE, Ala. (WSFA) – After being found guilty on 84 counts of child sex crimes in October, Jason Hudson was handed a sentence of 965 years in prison by Circuit Judge Amanda Baxley.
It’s less than the maximum sentence of nearly 1,500 years behind bars that the state was hoping for, but the prosecution is still pleased with the ruling.
“The way (the judge) structured that sentence, she did that in such a way to try to prevent parole considerations for different charges,” District Attorney C.J. Robinson explained.
Hudson walked into the courtroom the same way he left after learning his fate: completely devoid of any visible emotion.
Hudson remained stone-faced for the victim’s impact statement, in which the victim called Hudson a “monster” that is “unworthy of respect” and “deserves the maximum sentence.”
The victim added that they have “achieved more than they thought was possible” since the abuse and have “dedicated their life to Jesus,” and also said that they are “proud to say (Hudson) no longer has a hold on their life.”
It’s a case that took a toll on everyone required to see the evidence.
“In 20 years of doing this job, this case sticks out,” Robinson said. “You see this innocent child over a period of time being turned into a sex doll,” he added. “Then, you move away from that to these videos of children as young as 18 months old that were being victimized and raped, it was just terrible.”
According to the district attorney, Hudson was originally charged with a fraction of what he was later indicted on.
Robinson says Hudson claimed law enforcement planted child pornography onto his device, and in the ensuing investigation not only were the officers exonerated, but more evidence was brought to light.
“In that process we brought in state officials who had the most updated technology who found even more evidence and some of those when you stack them up led to an even greater sentence,” Robinson explained.
Robinson wishes the death penalty was on the table for this case and is urging the legislature to make that possible.
The “Child Predator Death Penalty Act” has been pre-filed for the next legislative session.
If passed, it would contradict a Supreme Court decision that says the death penalty cannot be used for crimes with no loss of life.
Florida passed a similar law in 2023, so Alabama would not be the first state to contradict that ruling.
Hudson’s wife, Farren Jill Hudson, has already been sentenced to 30 years in prison on related charges.
His attorney says they plan to file an appeal.
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