Chicago bishop, retired CFD assistant commissioner charged with child sexual abuse….
Jerry Jones, a former South Side pastor and retired assistant commissioner of the Chicago Fire Department, pleaded guilty in January 2025 to multiple counts of child sexual abuse spanning over two decades. The charges included aggravated criminal sexual abuse of victims under 13 and over 5 years old. He was sentenced to 60 days in jail for each count, to be served concurrently, along with 36 months of sex offender probation and lifetime registration as a sex offender.
Jones, who served as a bishop at two South Side churches, was accused of abusing three minors, including two nieces who lived with him and his wife during their childhood. The abuse reportedly occurred at multiple locations, including church premises and his home. One victim, who was 11 at the time, alleged that Jones used pastoral counseling sessions to inappropriately touch her and discuss sexual topics under the guise of biblical teachings. She also claimed that Jones solicited nude photographs from her.
The victims came forward years later, with one filing a police report in June 2020 after connecting with other survivors through social media. Jones was subsequently charged and later pleaded guilty to all five cases filed against him. In addition to the criminal charges, he was named in at least two civil lawsuits, both of which were settled and dismissed in June of the previous year.
Jones retired from the Chicago Fire Department in 2005 after a 28-year career, during which he held the position of assistant fire commissioner and chief officer of diversity. His alleged abuse of his nieces occurred while he was still employed with the department.
The case has drawn significant attention due to Jones’s prominent roles in both religious and public service sectors, highlighting ongoing concerns about child sexual abuse within trusted institutions.
