An Excelsior Springs man accused of sexually abusing two children has pleaded guilty and will spend nearly two decades in prison.

Gary Dean Tackett Jr. recently pleaded guilty to two felony charges of second-degree child molestation involving a child younger than 12 and fourth-degree child molestation involving a child younger than 17, with the offender being more than four years older. Tackett was sentenced to 15 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections on the first charge and four years on the second, with the sentences ordered to run consecutively for a total of 19 years.

Tackett had previously been scheduled for a jury trial beginning Aug. 31. However, on Aug. 14, the court moved the case to an Aug. 18 plea hearing by agreement of the parties, where Tackett entered his guilty pleas.

Clay County Prosecuting Attorney Zach Thompson addressed the outcome of the case following Tackett’s guilty pleas and sentencing.

“Tackett abused a position of trust to target two survivors, and this…