UPDATE: A former employee of the Visalia Unified School District, De Jaun Jones, faces 11 felony counts for sexual abuse allegations involving minors. The charges were confirmed by the Tulare County District Attorney’s office following multiple credible reports from young women who allege misconduct during the 2022-2023 school year.
Attorney Brendan Gilbert, representing one of the victims, stated that Jones is “a textbook predator” who has allegedly victimized young girls throughout his career. Jones, who served as a campus supervisor at Mount Whitney High School, stands accused of exchanging nude photos with a 15-year-old girl and engaging in inappropriate touching. These incidents reportedly occurred in 2023.
Gilbert emphasized the severity of the situation, revealing that Jones had previously been fired from the same high school nearly a decade prior due to similar allegations. “Mount Whitney High School did everything right in 2013 by releasing Jones, but they made a critical mistake by rehiring him in 2022,” he stated.
The attorney is now also representing a second teenager who has come forward with additional accusations against Jones, further illustrating a disturbing pattern of behavior. Gilbert highlighted that Jones has faced similar allegations while working at Monache High School in the Porterville Unified School District and even at an In-Shape gym.
The District Attorney’s office is taking these allegations seriously, citing at least three young women who have stepped forward with credible claims of abuse. If convicted on all counts, Jones could face significant prison time and mandatory registration as a sex offender.
A preliminary hearing for Jones’ criminal case is set for November 13, 2023. As the community grapples with these alarming accusations, the Visalia Unified School District has not responded to multiple requests for comment regarding the situation.
This developing story raises critical questions about the safety of students and the measures taken by school districts to protect vulnerable individuals. As more details emerge, the urgency of the situation cannot be overstated. For real-time updates, stay tuned and follow Vince Ybarra on social media.
