Jarrett Jones (Metro Nashville Police Department)
Jarrett Jones, 30, a Metro Nashville Public Schools teacher, was arrested Monday on charges of secretly recording more than 40 elementary children undressing at a school he taught at over the course of four years.
Jones asked for assistance with his computer from a colleague at one of the schools, which led to that person reporting inappropriate material on the hard drive.
He taught at Antioch High School as an assistant band director, and Mount View Elementary School as a music teacher.
He is being held on $100,000 bond.
Here’s what you need to know:
1. He Is Accused of Recording Over 40 Elementary Students Undressing in a Classroom Closet
Police said Jones told young girls, who were participating in school choir or plays at Napier Elementary School, to change clothes in a school closet while he secretly recorded the interactions.
According to an affidavit obtained by WSMV, Jones made more than 50 videos of over 40 students that he saved to a hard drive. The videos were reportedly made inside a music classroom closet at the school.
Jones’ Facebook page said that he left Napier Elementary School in May of 2015. In June of the same year he posted:
Well, I can finally say it since I got the official email from Human Capital, I am one of the Assistant Band Directors at Antioch High School and General Music teacher at Mt View Elementary. Glad to be back home in Antioch!
Don Aaron, a spokesman for Metro Nashville Police Department, said Jones was taken into custody without incident at his home in Antioch, Tennessee, and charged with two counts of aggravated sexual exploitation of minors and three counts of sexual exploitation of minors.
2. Police Investigated Him After a Colleague Came Forward With Information Connected to His Computer
Antioch H.S. teacher Jarrett Jones arrested for allegedly recording more than 40 elementary students undressing.
The Tennessean reported that police said the investigation began after Jones asked a colleague at Antioch High School to assist him with a computer problem.
During the course of the two-week long investigation, police said they found more than 50 videos in a folder labeled “Napier.” Authorities said each video appeared to be titled by the first name of the student featured in the video.
The affidavit described the first video that police found in the folder. Authorities said an elementary school-aged female entered a a closet with Jones, and he handed her a school choir shirt to try on. When Jones left, the child removed her coat and school shirt. She left her training bra on, put the choir shirt on and left the closet. The girl then returned to the closet with Jones, and he touched her shoulder where the training bra strap would be. He spoke to the girl and then left. The child then took off the shirt and removed her training bra, put the choir shirt back on and exited the closet. She was shown later returning to her school clothes.
Jones worked as a music teacher at Napier Elementary School from 2011-2015.
WMSV said Jones admitted to recording “around 20 students” while a teacher at the school, and to having the videos saved on a hard drive of his personal computer at home.
Authorities also found more than 1,000 sexually explicit images of other minors that did not appear to be related to the schools he taught at, the station said.
3. He Was Placed on Administrative Leave September 9
(Antioch High School website)
The Tennessean reported that Metro schools spokesman Joe Bass made the following statement after Jones was placed on leave September 9, when the investigation began:
We are devastated by the news of this investigation and are doing everything we can to help Metro Police and the District Attorney,” Bass said. “We are also working with the District Attorney’s office as well as the Nashville Children’s Alliance to communicate with and counsel the affected families, and we expect it to be an ongoing process. Because of today’s events, the building principal (Watechia Lawless) and her executive leadership, will be recommending dismissal to (the Metro schools superintendent).
4. The Community Is Outraged
Many are taking to social media to express their outrage at the situation. “What in the hell is wrong with these people. It makes me sick. Theses teachers are supposed to make our kids feel safe while they’re at school. Lock him up and throw away the key. I gotta say ‘Pervert,'” Tonya Stem stated in a Facebook comment.
Others are questioning the ease of anyone being able to teach young children in schools. “This is beyond disturbing! I am starting to think background checks are a thing of the past. If you look normal, have a college degree, experience teaching and can carry on a conversation and sell yourself, you’re hired!! Something needs to be done immediately! This is not ok,” Lee Franck-Healy said.
Tamara Hill Reynolds posted to Facebook that she isn’t shocked, but she’s angry. “So many times as Parents we’re encouraged to trust as we encourage our innocent children to trust and follow the instructions of your teacher,” she said.
5. He is Being Held on a $100,000 Bond
The Davidson County Sheriff’s Department website said Jones is being held on three charges of exploitation of a minor and two counts of aggravated exploitation of a child. He’s being held at Hill Detention Center and his bond is set at $100,000.
*This story is being updated as information becomes available.
