UPDATE: Former Visalia Unified School District employee De Jaun Jones is facing 11 felony charges for alleged sexual abuse against multiple minors. The charges stem from his tenure as a campus supervisor at Mount Whitney High School during the 2022-2023 school year. This urgent development comes as victims are stepping forward, demanding justice.
Attorney Brendan Gilbert, representing one of the victims, confirmed that a recent verdict awarded the victim $8 million in a related case against the district. Gilbert described Jones as a “textbook predator,” noting that his abusive behavior has persisted across various jobs, targeting vulnerable young females.
In 2023, accusations arose that Jones was involved in exchanging nude photos with a 15-year-old girl and engaging in inappropriate touching. Alarmingly, Gilbert revealed that Jones had been fired from Mount Whitney High a decade earlier due to similar misconduct. “Mount Whitney High School did everything right in 2013 when they let him go. However, bringing him back in 2022 was a grave mistake,” said Gilbert.
The allegations extend beyond Mount Whitney; Jones has also faced accusations of misconduct while working at Monache High School in the Porterville Unified School District and at an In-Shape gym. The Tulare County District Attorney’s office has corroborated that at least three young women have come forward with credible allegations against Jones.
As the case unfolds, Gilbert is now representing a second teenager who has accused Jones of abuse. He emphasized the seriousness of the situation, stating, “He should not have been rehired by the district in 2022 given that they had released him 10 years before for very serious misconduct.”
The preliminary hearing for Jones is scheduled for November 13, 2023. If convicted, he faces significant prison time and will be required to register as a sex offender. The community is left reeling as more details emerge about this troubling case.
As of now, Action News has made multiple attempts to receive comments from the Visalia Unified School District but has yet to receive a response. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story as it impacts the local community and raises questions about the safety of students in schools.
For live updates, follow Vince Ybarra on social media platforms.
