BREAKING: A former employee of the Visalia Unified School District is facing 11 felony charges related to sexual abuse involving minors. The charges against 40-year-old De Jaun Jones come after a victim was awarded $8 million in a recent case against the district.
Attorney Brendan Gilbert, who represents the victim, described Jones as a “textbook predator.” Allegations claim Jones exchanged nude photos with a 15-year-old girl and engaged in inappropriate touching while serving as a campus supervisor at Mount Whitney High School during the 2022-2023 school year. Gilbert noted that Jones had previously been fired from the same school in 2013 for similar misconduct.
“Mount Whitney High School did everything right in 2013 by terminating him, but they failed when they rehired him in 2022,” Gilbert stated, emphasizing the district’s failure to protect students. He also revealed that Jones has faced accusations of similar behavior at Monache High School in the Porterville Unified School District and at an In-Shape gym.
At least three young women have come forward with credible allegations against Jones, prompting the Tulare County District Attorney’s office to take action. The preliminary hearing for Jones is set for November 13, 2023. If convicted, he faces significant prison time and mandatory registration as a sex offender.
The Visalia Unified School District has not responded to multiple requests for comments regarding the ongoing case. Gilbert, representing a second teenager who has also accused Jones of abuse, expressed frustration over the district’s failure to learn from past mistakes.
This developing story raises critical questions about the safety of students in schools and the responsibilities of educational institutions to protect them from predatory behavior. As the case unfolds, community members are urged to stay informed and vigilant.
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