District Man Arraigned on Second Degree Child Sexual Abuse and Other Charges

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, April 24, 2023

Defendant Accused of Touching Child's Buttocks at Public Pool

            WASHINGTON – Gary Jones, 35, of Washington, D.C., was arraigned today at a hearing before the Honorable Marisa Demeo on charges stemming from an incident at a public pool in August 2022. 

            Jones was indicted on April 19, 2023, by a grand jury in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia on two counts of second degree child sexual abuse, with aggravating circumstances; one count of attempted second degree child sexual abuse, with aggravating circumstances; and one count of misdemeanor sexual abuse of a child or minor, with aggravating circumstances.

            According to a publicly available document, on August 18, 2022, at approximately 5:30 p.m., Jones entered the shower room at the Anacostia Pool. When two children entered the shower area, they observed Jones wearing underwear that exposed his genitals and rubbing his “private part” in front of them. Jones touched one child on the buttocks and attempted to touch the other child as well. The children immediately reported the incident to pool staff, who detained Jones until police arrived. 

            In announcing the charges, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Contee commended the work of those investigating the case from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).  They also acknowledged the efforts of those who are working on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Victim/Witness Advocate Veronica Vaughan and Paralegal Specialists ReShawn Johnson and Tiffany Fogle. Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica Wash, Kathleen Houck, and LaVater Massie-Banks, who are investigating and prosecuting the case.

            An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of criminal laws, and every defendant is presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty.