Pinellas County Schools Employee Arrested for Child Abuse
PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. – A Pinellas County Schools employee has been arrested and charged with child abuse after allegedly striking a 6-year-old autistic student in a special needs classroom.
According to a news release from the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, 65-year-old David Jones, a substitute classroom assistant at Oakhurst Elementary School, was arrested on Tuesday, September 16, 2025.
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The incident reportedly occurred on Monday, September 15, when Jones was working with the student. Deputies say the 6-year-old victim, who is autistic and semi-verbal, was hitting and kicking as a form of communication after lunch.
Jones is accused of swinging a lunch box containing a metal canister, striking the child in the face and causing a welt on the victim’s forehead.
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Deputies state that during an interview on September 16, Jones admitted to the incident, calling it a “knee jerk” reaction. He acknowledged that he knew the victim had special needs.
Jones was transported to the Pinellas County Jail and charged with one count of child abuse.
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