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Clarksburg resident Nelson Jones was found guilty by a jury of third-degree sex offense this week and will now face up to 10 years in prison when he is sentenced next month, according to the Montgomery County State's Attorney's Office.
In May 2021, prosecutors say that the graduation celebration continued into the early morning hours, and a woman at the party went to a bedroom alone to sleep, at which point Jones entered the bedroom and sexually assaulted her.
According to court documents, the woman was woken up by him touching her, and he was found guilty of groping her under her shirt at a re-trial after the case was initially tried in February 2023, but ended with a hung jury.
He also moved his hands into her pants and under her underwear, touching her inappropriately while she struggled to avoid the assault. She then was able to get free and ran out of the bedroom to get help from family.
Jones was found in the bed where the girl was sleeping.
Prosecutors say that he apologized to the victim before being ordered out of the home. The following day, he sent a second apology text message, confirming that he inappropriately touched her.
“The victim showed bravery in not only the first trial but again this week, testifying against the man who assaulted her," a spokesperson for the state's attorney's office stated. "Our prosecutors remained dedicated to seeing justice served and ensuring that the defendant will be held accountable for his actions.
"We are relieved that he will be required to register as a sex offender for life.”
When he is sentenced on Friday, Dec. 20, Jones will face a decade in prison and was ordered by a judge to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.
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