Laurel Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Child Abuse Case
Laurel, DE - A Laurel man has been sentenced to prison following a lengthy investigation into child sexual abuse spanning two states.
On January 7, 2026, 34-year-old Jesse Frank received a sentence of 14 years of incarceration at a Level V facility, followed by probation. This sentencing concludes a case that began with a report to the Laurel Police Department in early 2025.
The investigation commenced in March 2025, when the Laurel Police Department Criminal Investigations Unit (CIU) received allegations regarding sexual offenses involving a minor.
Detectives determined that the abuse occurred over an extended period and crossed state lines between Delaware and Maryland.
Working in coordination with the Wicomico County Sheriff's Office, the CIU located Frank and arrested him without incident on April 15, 2025.
At the time of his arrest, Frank faced a significant list of charges in Delaware. These included two counts of Rape in the Second Degree, one count of Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child, and one count of Sexual Solicitation of a Child.
He was also charged with eight counts of Sexual Abuse of a Child by a Person of Trust in the Second Degree and eight counts of Unlawful Sexual Contact in the Second Degree with a Minor.
Following his arraignment, he was held at the Sussex Correctional Institution on a $304,000 cash-only bond.
Subsequent to his arrest, Frank was indicted on two additional counts of Dealing in Child Pornography.
On November 7, 2025, he entered a guilty plea to both counts of Dealing in Child Pornography, as well as one count of Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child. While the Delaware case has concluded with his sentencing, Frank still faces pending adjudication for similar charges in the State of Maryland.
The investigation involved collaboration with the Delaware Division of Family Services and the Sussex County Department of Justice to ensure the victim's welfare and advance the prosecution.
Disclosure: All individuals mentioned in this article are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Eastern Shore Undercover® does not express or imply any opinion regarding the incident reported.
