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Tampa Catholic High School custodian accused of sexual battery involving teenager

Posted at 4:01 PM, Jul 01, 2019
and last updated 2019-07-02 02:50:20-04

TAMPA, Fla. -- A local high school custodian is accused of sexually battering a teenager.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office responded to a sexual battery call on June 22. According to deputies, 31-year-old Herbert Jones, who was a custodian with Tampa Catholic High School in the previous school year, admitted to the crime and said the teen victim "tried to refuse his advances."

“We have a predator that we know he has acted once, we want to make sure that he hasn’t done this to other people," said Amanda Granit with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.

Granit tells ABC Action News, Jones has strong connections to New Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Tampa. Deputies want parents at both the high school and church to talk with their kids.

“Do they recognize this man, has he ever done anything inappropriate to them? And if there are any additional victims they need to do the right thing," said Granit.

Deputies charged Jones with three counts of sexual battery. Deputies are investigating to see if there are any additional victims.

“It is really shocking but I’m glad that they’re doing the right thing and getting him away from children and young teens that are about to be adults," said Angela Miranda, who recently graduated from Tampa Catholic.

Anyone with information on Jones is asked to call 813-247-8200.