Five months after a well-known Pensacola youth counselor was arrested for allegedly sexually battering a minor within his youth organization, a judge granted his motion on Tuesday to remove his GPS tracking monitor while he awaits trial.
Rodney Jones is accused of having sex with a 16-year-old girl five times while she was a member of his New World Believer’s Healthy Opportunities and Options to Promote Success (HOOPS) program, an organization dedicated to helping young people in Escambia County stay out of gangs and the juvenile justice system. Jones was the executive director.
The girl told investigators that when others weren’t around Jones talked to her inappropriately, which made her uncomfortable. The teen also described instances when Jones would take her home at night and would touch her inappropriately on top of her clothes, but said “the touching turned into sexual intercourse between her and Rodney a few times.”
During the course of the investigation, law enforcement said Jones provided a number of gifts and cash payments to the girl that totaled nearly $2,000 and offered to pay the teenager’s cell phone bill.
Jones was arrested on Jan. 22 and has since been on an ankle monitor GPS system to track his whereabouts.
Jones’ attorney, Gene Mitchell, filed the motion to remove the monitor stating that his client “does not have the financial means to pay.”
“This gentleman is suffering financially,” Mitchell told Judge Matt Gordon during the hearing. “He’s indigent.”
Individuals ordered to wear GPS monitors must pay for the associated costs.
After prosecutor Bennett Traylor informed Gordon he had no objection to the removal of Jones’ GPS monitor, the judge said, “Well, without objection, I’ll grant the motion.”
During the hearing, Jones briefly spoke to Gordon after granting the motion to say he had travel plans to Destin, Atlanta and New York for “business dealings.”
Jones’ next scheduled court date is set for Sept. 8.
Who is Rodney Jones?
Jones was the executive director of the New World Believer’s Healthy Opportunities and Options to Promote Success (HOOPS) program, an organization dedicated to helping young people in Escambia County stay out of gangs and the juvenile justice system.
The HOOPS program was awarded $1,711,510 by the Escambia Children’s Trust in October of 2023 to serve 160 11- to 18-year-olds per year for three years.
Jones was suspended by the New World Believers organization because of a pending DJJ investigation and the nonprofit’s contract with Escambia Children’s Trust was terminated.
Jones is also a former president of the local chapter of the NAACP and a licensed mental health counselor.
Benjamin Johnson is the breaking news, crime and military reporter for the Pensacola News Journal. He covers local law enforcement, courts and military within Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. He can be reached at bjohnson@pnj.com.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Judge allows Rodney Jones to remove GPS monitor prior to trial
Reporting by Benjamin Johnson, Pensacola News Journal / Pensacola News Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Benjamin Johnson, Pensacola News Journal | USA TODAY Network
