South Side High School Coach Charged With Sex Assault
Updated 01/25/13 - 2:03 p.m.
CHICAGO (STMW) -- Bond was set at $500,000 on Friday for a man who up until the day after he was charged last week with the sexual assault of a 17-year-old girl in the South Chicago neighborhood was varsity basketball coach for a South Side charter school.
Kevin Jones, 33, of the 8300 block of South Kerfoot Avenue, was charged with one count each of criminal sexual assault on a victim between 13 and 17, and attempted criminal sexual assault by force, according to police.
Jones was a varsity boys basketball coach at EPIC Academy Charter High School at 8255 S. Houston Ave. The school's attorney, Cindy Hansen, said in a statement, "as of January 18, 2013, Mr. Jones is no longer employed or affiliated with Epic."
Because it was a personnel matter, Hansen could not say whether Jones was fired or resigned after the charges were filed. She said Jones was a coach, but not a teacher at the school.
He is accused of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl inside a vehicle in the 8500 block of South Green Bay Avenue about 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 17, police said.
According to court records, two girls -- who are students at the school -- accepted a ride home from Jones that evening. He drove them to an alley and parked the car, then got into the back seat of the car with the victims and unzipped his pants, court records state.
He attempted to push the head of the girl identified as "Victim No. 2" into his lap and grabbed her shoulders and head, court records said. She resisted and Jones allegedly then had the other girl, who was still in the backseat, perform oral sex on him.
"Victim No. 2" saw this both before and after she got out of the car, court records state. She then called someone to pick her up and take her home, while Jones drove the other girl home, according to court records.
The next day, "Victim No. 2" told a teacher and a friend what happened, and the other girl told her mother a few days later, court records said.
Jones has one prior arrest, for possession of cannabis in 2000, according to court records. That charge was dismissed.
"As Mr. Jones was not a teacher in the school on a regular basis, but was employed only as a coach, it is not anticipated that Mr. Jones' departure should cause any disruption to the education of EPIC students," Hansen said. "However, additional supports have been put in place and will continue to be available to students, if needed."
She added, "EPIC Academy takes the safety of its students very seriously. If concerns are ever brought to the attention of school administrators about the safety and well-being of its students, the administration takes all actions available to them. Such has occurred in this case."
As special conditions of the bond set Friday, Jones is not to have contact with the victims or other family members who are under 18, nor is he to have any contact with anyone under 18.
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2013. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
