UPDATE: Former Mount Whitney High School employee De Jaun Jones, 40, faces 11 felony charges for sexual abuse following allegations of misconduct involving teenage girls. This urgent development comes as attorney Brendan Gilbert represents multiple victims, including a recently awarded $8 million settlement against the Visalia Unified School District.
Authorities confirm that Jones was accused of exchanging nude photos with a 15-year-old girl and engaging in inappropriate touching during the 2022-2023 school year. Alarmingly, Gilbert revealed that Jones had previously been fired from Mount Whitney High in 2013 for similar accusations. “He’s a textbook predator,” Gilbert stated, highlighting the disturbing pattern of abuse that spans several years and locations.
Gilbert’s firm is now also representing a second victim, indicating a broader issue within the district. “He should not have been rehired by the district in 2022 given that they had released him 10 years before for very serious misconduct,” he emphasized. Reports suggest that Jones has a history of misconduct at Monache High School in Porterville Unified and even at local gyms.
The Tulare County District Attorney’s Office has confirmed that at least three young women have come forward with credible allegations against Jones. Their claims underline a troubling environment where Jones allegedly groomed girls, normalizing inappropriate behavior during his tenure as a campus supervisor.
As of now, the Visalia Unified School District has not responded to repeated requests for comments from local media. Jones’ preliminary hearing is set for November 13, 2023. If convicted, he faces significant prison time and mandatory registration as a sex offender, emphasizing the urgency of the situation for community safety.
This case highlights critical questions regarding the district’s hiring practices and the protection of students. As the investigation unfolds, the community is left grappling with the implications of these serious allegations.
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