Jarrod Gaines Kirkus

New Braunfels, TX – A Comal County jury has sentenced Jarrod Gaines Kirkus, 42, of Marion, Texas, to 14 life sentences plus 100 years in prison after convicting him of multiple counts of child sex trafficking, sexual assault of children, child pornography offenses, and related crimes in what prosecutors described as one of the most disturbing cases to come before the court.

On February 17, 2026, the jury found Kirkus guilty of:

• 3 counts of Trafficking of a Child
• 4 counts of Sexual Assault of a Child
• 5 counts of Possession with Intent to Promote Child Pornography
• 1 count of Attempted Trafficking of a Child
• 1 count of Online Solicitation of a Minor

Kirkus had previously pleaded guilty to 5 additional counts of Possession of Child Pornography. After electing for jury sentencing, he received life imprisonment on each of the primary trafficking, sexual assault, and related felony counts, plus 20 years on each of the five possession counts—the maximum allowed. Judge Bruce Boyer of the 22nd District Court ordered 18 of the 19 convictions to run consecutively, ensuring Kirkus will spend the rest of his life incarcerated.

“This defendant chose life, choice after choice, victim after victim,” District Attorney Jennifer Tharp told the jury in closing arguments. “Jarrod Gaines Kirkus chose his life sentences.”

The nearly two-week trial, which began February 9, 2026, revealed a pattern of predatory behavior spanning decades. Kirkus, a registered sex offender since a 2005 Bexar County conviction for aggravated sexual assault of a child, criminal solicitation of a minor, and possession of child pornography, continued offending after his release.

The current case originated in June 2023 when the mother of a 15-year-old girl (Victim #1) contacted the Comal County Sheriff’s Office after her daughter got into a red vehicle with an unknown adult male. Investigators identified the man as Kirkus. The teen had met him on Snapchat at age 14; he groomed her with gifts, money, and false claims of being an orthodontist while living with his parents in Guadalupe County.

Over the following year, Kirkus transported the victim to hotels in New Braunfels for sexual activity, provided her alcohol at his sister’s residence, and filmed assaults. Forensic analysis of his devices confirmed videos of the abuse, which he shared with third parties online. Kirkus confessed during interrogation, admitting he had sent “nudes” to “hundreds” of girls on social media and was unsure of their ages.

The punishment phase exposed even more victims:

• Victim #2: The survivor from Kirkus’ 2005 conviction testified about being sexually assaulted at age 11 or 12; she described lifelong trauma.
• Victim #3: A 10-year-old girl whose mother recorded and sent videos of Kirkus sexually abusing her in exchange for payments and gifts. The child’s biological father, who had searched for his children for over four years after the mother abducted them, testified about the devastating impact on his daughter.

Kirkus was arrested at an apartment in Live Oak where he was found sleeping in bed with the 10-year-old girl. He also failed to comply with sex offender registration requirements, omitting online identifiers, email addresses, and his actual phone number.

In jail calls played for the jury, Kirkus described his crimes as “victimless” and criticized the victims. Prosecutors argued he had “taken their memories” and sought maximum sentences to protect future children.

“This is an exceptionally disturbing case,” the Comal County District Attorney’s Office stated. “Jarrod Kirkus is a dangerous sexual predator who deserves to spend the rest of his life behind bars, far away from children.”

The investigation was a joint effort by the Comal County Sheriff’s Office and Live Oak Police Department, with key work by CCSO Detective Eric Guerrettaz. The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Feldman and District Attorney Jennifer Tharp, supported by victim advocates, investigators, and therapy dog teams from Canine Classmates.