URGENT UPDATE: A former employee of the Visalia Unified School District, De Jaun Jones, is facing 11 felony charges related to sexual abuse against young women. The allegations stem from incidents during the 2022-2023 school year at Mount Whitney High School in Tulare County, California.
Attorney Brendan Gilbert, representing the victims, recently secured an $8 million judgment against the school district, highlighting Jones as a “textbook predator” who has allegedly victimized minors throughout his career. Gilbert stated, “He’s victimized minor females essentially everywhere he’s gone in his life at different jobs.”
Jones, 40, previously worked as a campus supervisor at Mount Whitney High School, where he is accused of exchanging nude photos with a 15-year-old girl and engaging in inappropriate touching last year. Alarmingly, Gilbert revealed that Jones had been fired from the same school a decade earlier for similar misconduct. “Mount Whitney High School did everything right in 2013 by releasing Jones, but they did everything wrong when they brought him back in 2022,” Gilbert added.
The accusations against Jones extend beyond just Mount Whitney. Gilbert also represents a second teen who has come forward with claims of abuse. Jones has faced similar allegations while working at Monache High School in the Porterville Unified School District and even during his time at an In-Shape gym.
Authorities report that at least three young women have filed credible allegations against Jones. The Tulare County District Attorney’s Office has been proactive, filing multiple charges that could lead to significant prison time and mandatory registration as a sex offender if he is convicted.
Jones’ preliminary hearing is set for November 13, with the case drawing increasing attention and concern from the community. Action News has attempted to reach the Visalia Unified School District for comment but has yet to receive a response.
This developing situation raises urgent questions about how school districts handle allegations of misconduct and the safety of students in educational environments. As more details emerge, the implications for the district and the victims of these allegations remain significant.
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