BY DAN HILDEBRAN
Telegraph Staff Writer
STARKE— Starke police arrested Phillip M. Jones, 32, of Starke for sexual battery and child cruelty and Jennifer A. Jones, 40, of Starke, for child cruelty and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
According to a police report, Florida Department of Children and Families officials called police after the alleged offenses were reported on a state abuse hotline.
When police arrived at the Bradford Campground and Motel, the scene of the alleged offenses, they discovered that the victim’s mother: Jennifer Jones, had just kicked the girl out of the home, “telling her that she had to leave and couldn’t live there anymore.”
Police located the victim and took her to the University of Florida’s Child Protection Team for questioning.
The victim told members of the Child Protection Team that Philip Jones sexually battered her on several occasions and that Jennifer Jones knew of and consented to the offenses.
“(The victim) stated that prior to the first sexual encounter with Philip that Jennifer Jones had approached her with the idea and told her that Phillip wasn’t interested in having sex with her (Jennifer) and to save the relationship that she wanted (the victim) to engage in sexual activity with Philip,” wrote reporting officer Detective Michael P. Gillick. “(The victim) was additionally provided with marijuana prior to sexual encounters with Phillip.”
