A substitute teacher in Texas was arrested on multiple felony charges, including aggravated sexual assault of a child, according to police.
Madison Jones, 30, was taken into custody by officers from the Midlothian Police Department on December 19, following a report of a possible sexual assault that had occurred two days prior.
As the investigation progressed, detectives later identified another suspect, Zachary Dondlinger, 37, from Happy, Texas. He was arrested on December 23, facing charges of sexual battery involving a child. At the time of his arrest, he was being held at the Winkler County Detention Center.
Midlothian Police Department Deputy Chief Scott Brown stated that Jones and Dondlinger were in a relationship. Records from the Ellis County Sheriff’s Office show that Jones is facing serious charges, including a first-degree felony for aggravated sexual assault of a child, two second-degree felony counts for indecency with a child through sexual contact, and another first-degree felony for possessing child pornography with over 500 visual images. Her bail is set at $90,000.
The police department expressed gratitude toward various law enforcement agencies for their assistance in locating and apprehending Dondlinger, noting that the investigation is still active.
The Midlothian Independent School District announced that Ms. Jones is no longer with them and had only worked as a substitute teacher four times in the past year, with her most recent assignment at Heritage High School on November 19. They clarified, however, that there is currently no evidence linking the allegations to any activities at school or during her time as a substitute.
Midlothian ISD also affirmed that their system for monitoring employee criminal records functioned effectively, allowing them to receive prompt notifications from the Texas Department of Public Safety. They have completed all required reporting to the Texas Education Agency.
