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Press Release

Jury Finds Broken Arrow Man Guilty of Sexually Abusing Two Children

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Oklahoma

A federal jury today convicted a Broken Arrow man of sexually abusing two children under the age of 12, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.

Jeffrey Arch Jones, 31, was found guilty of two counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a child in Indian Country and one count of abusive sexual contact of a child in Indian Country. U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell presided over the trial and set sentencing for Oct. 15, 2021.

“Make no mistake, Jeffrey Jones is a child sexual predator,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “Today’s conviction ensures Jones will no longer be able to harm another child while he is in federal prison. I want to thank the two young victims who bravely testified at trial and confronted Jeffery Jones with his actions.”

Jones, a Cherokee citizen, was previously convicted of sexually abusing the two victims in Tulsa County District Court but appealed his conviction, arguing the state did not have jurisdiction to prosecute the case because the crime occurred within the Muscogee Nation Reservation and he was a tribal citizen. The case was then prosecuted in federal court.

From Sept. 29, 2015 to Sept 28, 2016, Jones sexually abused a young child. He also sexually abused a second child from Oct. 9, 2014 to Sept. 30, 2016.

On Feb. 2, 2017, one of the victims disclosed to a teacher that the defendant had been touching her in a sexual manner. School officials contacted the Broken Arrow Police Department. During the ensuing investigation, it was determined the second child was also sexually abused by Jones.

Today, in closing arguments, Assistant U.S. Attorney Reagan Reininger reminded the jury of the testimony of expert witnesses, law enforcement, and the victims. She assured the jury the children had no incentive to lie and that the medical evidence corroborated the type of sexual abuse reported by the victims. She described how their behavior and disclosures were similar to that seen in other child sexual abuse victims. She explained how some victims disclose abuse on their own when they are ready, but others may be asked about abuse before they are fully ready to disclose what happened to them, as in the case of the second victim. She explained how difficult it had been for the two victims to describe the abuse to others repeatedly since 2017, including this week in court. Finally, Reininger reminded the jury that child sexual abuse is perpetrated in secrecy, behind closed doors, in moments when the abuser is alone with a child. She asked the jury to evaluate the evidence, including the children’s accounts, and to find Jeffrey Jones guilty.

The jury deliberated nearly two hours before returning guilty verdicts on all three counts.

“Today’s conviction was a result of the diligent work performed by agents and officers of the FBI and Broken Arrow Police Department as well as Assistant U.S. Attorneys Reagan Reininger and Leah Paisner. I appreciate their dedication to protecting children,” Johnson said.

Contact

Public Affairs
918-382-2755

Updated June 23, 2021

Topics
Project Safe Childhood
Indian Country Law and Justice