WALTON COUNTY, FL (BuzzReport) — A teacher at Walton High School has been arrested on felony charges following an investigation into alleged misconduct involving a student, according to the Walton County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities say the investigation began on March 3 after the Sheriff’s Office received a report that an Exceptional Student Education (ESE) student at the school disclosed inappropriate behavior involving a teacher. Around the same time, a separate staff member reported witnessing a suspicious interaction between the same student and the teacher on campus.
The Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Bureau immediately launched an investigation into the allegations.
The teacher was identified as 72-year-old Michael Lewis Jones. Following the initial report, Jones was placed on administrative leave by the Walton County School District and removed from campus while investigators examined the claims.
On the morning of March 6, investigators submitted a warrant for Jones’ arrest, which was later reviewed and approved by a judge. Jones was taken into custody Friday afternoon at his home in Holmes County with assistance from the United States Marshals Service task force and the Holmes County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities say Jones was transported to the Holmes County Jail and will be extradited to Walton County to face charges.
Jones has been charged with offenses against students by an authority figure, a second-degree felony under Florida law.
Investigators say that due to Jones’ role as a teacher and the nature of the allegations, they cannot rule out the possibility that additional victims may exist. The Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone who believes they may have been harmed by Jones to contact the Walton County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Bureau at (850) 892-8111.
The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities say additional charges could be filed as the case develops.