A former employee at Discovery Playtown daycare in Maple Valley, Joseph Jones, has been arrested on charges including rape of a child, child molestation, and communicating with a minor for immoral purposes. As reported by KOMO News, the 25-year-old was arrested on May 31 at his home and is being held on $500,000 bail. Court documents uncovered his history as a registered sex offender from 2013 to 2021 following a guilty plea for first-degree child molestation.

The allegations surfaced when two sisters, aged 10 and 13, came forward with claims of sexual assault by Jones, who they met through his employment at the daycare and as a family friend. The King County Sheriff's Office was notified of the sex offense against the children on May 2.

In a harrowing account detailed by KING 5, the younger sister, before turning 10, disclosed being molested by Jones, expressing fear that her parents would become aware of the assault. The elder sister recounted how their relationship progressed from gaming sessions to sharing sexually explicit material over Discord, and eventually to physical encounters.

According to KING 5, Jones admitted to the sexual abuse of the 13-year-old girl and was aware it was wrong, but claimed he continued the relationship under the pretext of preventing her from self-harm. He dismissed the incident involving the younger sister as a misunderstanding. His past conviction for child molestation as a juvenile added to the gravity of the current charges.