A former teacher at Jefferson High School is behind bars in Tampa after police accused him of repeated sexual encounters with a 17-year-old student following text messages. Marvin Jones was arrested Thursday and booked into Orient Road Jail, accused of unlawful sexual activity with a minor and lewd or lascivious touching.
According to Tampa Free Press, police accuse Jones of repeated unlawful sexual activity with the student, alleging that the contact began through text messages and social media apps back in September 2025. Investigators say those messages eventually escalated into repeated sexual encounters between Jones and the teen.
The case reportedly came to light on September 11, 2026, when a school resource officer at Jefferson High School learned of inappropriate communications and conduct between a teacher and a student, per the same account. From there, the investigation was handed off to the Tampa Police Special Victims Unit, which took over the case going forward.
Charges Filed After Nearly Two-Week Investigation
Jones now faces three counts of unlawful sexual activity with a minor along with one count of lewd or lascivious touching of a minor by a person 24 or older, the report notes. That second charge falls under Florida Statute 794.051, which makes it a third-degree felony for a person 24 or older to intentionally touch a 16- or 17-year-old in a lewd or lascivious manner.
Brett Owen said the investigation was methodical and continued until the suspect was in custody, according to the outlet's report. Owen also said that teachers who break families' trust will face justice, a pointed message aimed squarely at the position of authority Jones held over the student.
What Happens Next
Jones was booked into Orient Road Jail Thursday, the same day Tampa police made the arrest. Beyond the booking and the charges themselves, no additional details about his court proceedings have been released.
