Gwinnett band director resigns, arrested on rape, sexual assault charges

Villie Jones (Gwinnett County Sheriff's Office)

Villie Jones (Gwinnett County Sheriff's Office)

A former South Gwinnett High School band director is being held in jail without bond after police say he raped and sexually assaulted at least four band students multiple times.

Villie Jones of Lawrenceville was arrested Thursday night in connection to alleged attacks that took place at the school, Gwinnett County Schools Police Officer Felicia Churchill wrote in a police report.

On Tuesday, an 18-year-old student told officers at the Snellville Police Department that Jones raped her several times, the most recent of which was in March.

The first alleged assault happened in 2016, according to the arrest warrant obtained by Channel 2 Action News.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution does not release the names of sexual assault victims.

After a forensic interview, Snellville police contacted school police, Churchill wrote.

The 18-year-old told police about three more band students who were also allegedly assaulted by Jones.

Jones, 42, resigned Wednesday from the band director job he started in 2015 shortly before four counts of sexual assault were levied against him, Channel 2 reported.

Students told the news station they’d heard about the attacks but didn’t know until Friday that Jones was charged with rape.

“It was going around, but I didn't want to believe it until they actually brought in some evidence,” Alexander Gabriel said.

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