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Written by: E. George
Published August 26, 2024 @ 12:00 PM ET
Warning: The following report describes alleged sexual violence.
MCDUFFIE COUNTY, Ga. – A recent report has provided new details regarding the indictment of Detric Ontarious Jones, a candidate for the Wilkes County sheriff position. Toombs Judicial Circuit District Attorney Bill Doupe has confirmed that a grand jury has returned an indictment against Jones, charging him with misdemeanor sexual battery.
At the time of the alleged incident, Jones was serving as a captain with the McDuffie County Board of Education Police Department. The misconduct occurred on June 12 at a juvenile justice office in Thomson.
According to the incident report, the victim allowed Jones access to the building through a buzzer system at the office. Once inside, he began asking the victim inappropriate questions.
His behavior escalated as he groped her buttocks multiple times, inserted his hands inside her pants and shirt, and attempted to kiss her. The victim managed to turn her head, limiting Jones’ contact to the side of her mouth.
Despite her clear refusal and explicit requests for him to stop, Jones persisted with his unwanted advances.
Recordings obtained by the authorities showed Jones making numerous phone calls and sending text messages to the victim. These recordings revealed her visible discomfort and fear as she recounted the incident.
The recordings also documented Jones in uniform making inappropriate statements towards her. Additionally, a hickey on the victim’s neck was observed as a physical sign of the inappropriate encounter.
The victim described feeling very uncomfortable and disgusted by the incident, expressing confusion over why such behavior occurred, especially since she had previously viewed Jones as a father figure.
District Attorney Doupe’s office reviewed the case thoroughly, including meeting with the victim before deciding to present the case to the grand jury.
This case is not the first instance of Jones facing scrutiny for inappropriate behavior. In 2015, he was suspended and reassigned to a different school following complaints from upset parents about inappropriate comments he made to students.
Records revealed that Jones is not currently serving as a school resource officer at the McDuffie Achievement Center.
Jones recently made headlines for defeating incumbent Mark Moore in the Wilkes County sheriff primaries. Jones was set to run against Darrell Powers for the position in November.