A Hillsboro man indicted this week on child rape charges was arraigned Thursday in Highland County Common Pleas Court where his bond set at half a million dollars.
Jerry Thomas Jones Jr., 48, was indicted Tuesday with two counts of first-degree felony rape, one count of third-degree felony gross sexual imposition, and 15 counts of fourth-degree felony pandering sexually oriented material involving a minor.
According to an affidavit filed in February, an investigation was conducted following claims made last October by the alleged victim, who is less than 13 years old, according to the indictment. Items seized from Jones’ home were submitted to the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) for analysis. The affidavit states that a video of a sexual encounter between the juvenile victim and Jones was “extracted.”
The proceedings on Thursday, presided over by magistrate Cynthia Williams, also included licensed court interpreter Robert Coletrain for Jones beecause the defendant is deaf.
According to the county jail’s website, Jones was arrested on Feb. 9. If Jones makes bond he would be under pretrial supervision and on house arrest. Any contact with the victim is also prohibited by the court.
He is scheduled to face a jury on April 18.
Reach Angela Shepherd at 937-393-3456, ext. 1681, or on Twitter @wordyshepherd.
