Ex-JLC teacher sentenced in Macon molestation case was not with Army, officials say

A former Bibb County middle school teacher who was sentenced last month to 25 years in prison and 25 years probation for having an inappropriate relationship with a student was not affiliated with the Army JROTC.

Charles B. Jackson, 55, pleaded guilty to child molestation, enticing a child for indecent purposes and sexual contact by a person in position of trust to the first degree on March 25, according to the Macon Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office.

The district attorney’s office released a statement on April 11 that identified Jackson as a Junior Officers’ Training Corps in the school district. But U.S. Army officials said this week that Jackson has never been affiliated with Army JROTC.

“Our records confirm he was not serving as an Army JROTC instructor at the time of his crimes and has never served in the role of JROTC instructor at Ballard Hudson Middle School or any other school,” said Daniel Lessard, a spokesperson for U.S. Army Cadet Command.

“We are aware of photos of Mr. Jackson wearing an official U.S. Army uniform while administering a locally-ran Junior Leadership Corps program at the school. As a retired member of the National Guard, Mr. Jackson was not authorized to wear his official military uniform in an unofficial role,” he added.

Bibb County School District spokesperson Stephanie Hartley confirmed on Friday that Jackson was formerly employed as a Junior Leadership Corps instructor.

U.S. Army Cadet Command oversees more than 1,700 Army JROTC programs at high schools, Lessard said. None of the programs are established at the middle school level, and any local programs like the Junior Leadership Corps are not affiliated with the U.S. Army, he added.

The Junior Leadership Corps program is a middle school precursor to the JROTC program.