Tuba City Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Sexually Abusing Children

     PHOENIX, Ariz. – This week, James Lee Jones, Jr., of Tuba City, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dominic W. Lanza to multiple life terms in prison.  Jones previously was convicted by a jury of 4 counts of Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Child and 5 counts of Abusive Sexual Contact of a Child.

     In the late 1990s, Jones repeatedly sexually abused a minor who was under the age of 12.  In 2016, Jones repeatedly sexually abused another minor who was 12 years old.  Jones sexually abused the victims on the Navajo Nation Indian Reservation, where Jones and the victims are enrolled tribal members.   

     “There is no question that Navajo will be a safer place for children with Jones off the streets permanently,” said United States Attorney Michael Bailey.

     “These crimes are gut-wrenching and there is no question that this sentencing is just,” said Sean Kaul, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Phoenix Field Office. “The FBI is responsible for investigating the most serious crimes in Indian Country and we will continue to aggressively pursue child sexual assault cases. The FBI is committed to protecting all of our communities, helping victims, and ensuring that justice is served.”

     The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety.  The prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan Powell and Amy Chang, District of Arizona, Phoenix.