Bartholomew County man sentenced in rape investigation

A Bartholomew County man is heading to prison for 13 years after raping a mentally disabled woman..

According to the Bartholomew County Prosecutor’s Office, the case started in July of 2023 when Columbus Regional Hospital Police and Adult Protective Services became involved in a case where a child was born to the victim, a mentally disabled adult with the cognitive abilities of a toddler. Authorities say that she did not have the mental ability to consent to enter into a sexual relationship.

Brandon Jacobs along with three others were arrested in September of that year on felony charges of rape and promotion of human trafficking. In April of this year, Jacobs pled guilty to rape. He was sentenced earlier this month by Bartholomew Circuit Court Judge Kelly Benjamin to a total of 16 years, with 13 of those years in the Indiana Department of Correction and the remaining 3 years to be suspended and spent on probation.

According to the prosecutor’s office, Jacobs is now legally considered a sexually violent predator and will be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.