A 40-year-old man was arrested at the Rock the Country music festival Friday after Marion County sheriff’s deputies said they discovered he had traveled with a 17-year-old and had been having a sexual relationship with her.
Jason Lamar Jones, 40, of Bowling Green, was arrested Aug. 28 at the Florida Horse Park on charges of unlawful sexual activity with certain minors and interference with the custody of a minor, according to a Marion County Sheriff’s Office arrest affidavit.
Deputies were providing security at the festival, located at 11008 S. Highway 475, when a deputy reportedly saw Jones grab a young woman by the back of the neck and kiss her on the mouth.
Because the woman appeared to be a juvenile, deputies spoke with the pair. Jones allegedly identified himself as her stepfather and initially told deputies she was 18, while the woman also maintained that she was an adult, according to the affidavit.
Investigators contacted the girl’s mother, who confirmed she was actually 17 years old and said her daughter had told her she was staying at a female friend’s house. Deputies also contacted that friend, who reportedly confirmed the girl was supposed to be staying with her and said she had never heard of or met Jones.
After being read his Miranda rights, Jones allegedly told investigators he had known the girl for one to two years and claimed he had been “chilling” with her because she did not get along with her mother. He reportedly acknowledged having sex with the teen multiple times and said they had exchanged nude photographs.
According to the affidavit, Jones told investigators he believed the girl’s mother had given her permission to travel with him, but acknowledged he had never spoken to or met her mother. He allegedly said a “reasonable 40-year-old man” would not believe a 17-year-old girl had permission to leave town with him and suggested the girl’s claim that she had permission gave him “plausible deniability.”
The teen later told deputies she and Jones had sex several times inside his GMC Sierra, including as recently as the previous weekend, according to the affidavit.
Investigators also learned Jones and the teen had stayed at the Quality Inn at 3767 NW Blitchton Road before attending the festival. Jones allegedly admitted they had sex without protection in the hotel room.
The teen later confirmed to investigators that the two had sex there and provided additional details consistent with Jones’ account. Deputies said a room key from the Quality Inn was found in Jones’ wallet following his arrest.
Investigators concluded Jones knowingly and recklessly took the juvenile from her mother’s custody and engaged in sexual activity with her, according to the affidavit.
Jones was taken into custody at the Florida Horse Park shortly after 10 p.m. Friday. The unlawful sexual activity charge was listed with no bond in the affidavit.
