NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — Explosive new details in an alleged sexual assault case involving a young girl and two adults. One of them is a Newport News police officer.
The woman, who is now 22, said officer Robert Jones and her babysitter Kristi Cline sexually assaulted her when she was between the ages of 12 and 14, from 2008 to 2011.
According to court documents, Cline ran a daycare facility out of her home on Springwell Place in the Colony Pines neighborhood. The girl, identified as L.C., would go there after school. The woman told detectives Jones would frequently stop by.
Court documents said the first alleged incident happened in 2008. The woman was 12 at the time. Court documents said Jones and Cline allegedly raped and sexually assaulted her at least three more times until she was 13 or 14.
A city spokesperson said Cline's home was not licensed or voluntarily registered as a home daycare. Cline is now wanted and faces several charges including aggravated sexual battery. Newport News police said they anticipate an arrest in a couple of days.
Police arrested Jones Friday, months after the woman came forward with allegations of assault.
Neighbors are completely shocked. Kelvin Brown lives across the street. He said he saw Jones come to the home often.
“This is a family we see when we walk in the neighborhood, we see an officer come by all the time, kids dropped off, I'm lost for words,” Brown said. “It would have never crossed my mind.”
Jones, 46, lives in the 800 block of Catalina Drive in Newport News. He faces charges of rape (two counts), carnal knowledge, forcible sodomy, taking indecent liberties (four counts), and criminal solicitation.
The department placed Jones on administrative leave, without pay pending the results of the administrative investigation.
He has worked for the Newport News Police Department since 2007, and he is currently assigned to the North Precinct.
“We take these allegations very seriously and are working closely with the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office regarding the criminal charges. In addition, the Department has been conducting an extensive administrative investigation regarding the officer involved,” said Chief of Police Steve Drew.
Jones is back in court April 11 for an attorney review.