Police say the father faces a sexual battery charge involving a 16- or 17-year-old, while his adult son is accused of offering $10,000 for the teen to recant.
PENSACOLA, FL — A Pensacola youth director was arrested Thursday on a charge of sexual battery of a victim age 16 or 17, and his son was arrested earlier in the week on a charge of tampering with a witness, police said. The arrests stem from a juvenile sexual assault investigation that began in late December.
Authorities identified the pair as Rodney Jones, 57, and his son, Rodrico Jones, 26. The case has drawn attention because the elder Jones leads H.O.O.P.S., a New World Believers youth program that receives public funding to serve at-risk teens. Police say their investigation is active, and court records and arrest reports are being processed. Bond decisions shifted Friday as the two men were released from the county jail while the case proceeds. The immediate questions now center on what investigators documented, how program ties intersect with the timeline, and when the first court hearings will be set.
According to an arrest report obtained by local media, detectives were called Dec. 23 to Gulf Coast Kids House, a child-advocacy center in Pensacola, for a sexual assault report naming Rodney Jones as the suspect. On Jan. 3, investigators were told through Jones’ attorney that he was willing to speak and that “the things being said about him aren’t true,” the report states. In the days that followed, members of the Jones family allegedly reached out to the victim’s relatives. On Jan. 5, one of Jones’ adult children who has not been charged sent a Facebook message to the family, the report says. Two days later, on Jan. 7, another encounter unfolded away from the home. Police said the family described a series of contacts that escalated over several days as the investigation moved forward.
Pensacola police said in a statement Thursday that Rodney Jones “was taken into custody today as a result of an ongoing investigation … At this time, no additional information regarding the investigation is being released. Further details will be provided as they become available and appropriate.” The second arrest in the case involves witness tampering allegations against Rodrico Jones. The arrest report says he confronted a relative of the teen at a gas station on North Pace Boulevard known locally as Beer City and offered $10,000 for the victim to recant her statement. The report also notes that on either Jan. 8 or 9 a white van with the H.O.O.P.S. emblem arrived at the family’s apartment, and two Jones children who have not been charged asked what the victim told police and said they wanted her to change her account. Police have not said whether additional suspects will be charged.
Rodney Jones was initially held on a $250,000 bond; his son was initially jailed without bond, according to booking information summarized by local reports. By late Friday afternoon, both men were released from the Escambia County Jail after bonds were set: $250,000 for Rodney Jones and $50,000 for Rodrico Jones. As of Friday evening, Pensacola police had not released Rodney Jones’ full arrest report. Officials said the investigation remains active and that further details will be provided when appropriate. The victim previously attended H.O.O.P.S., the report states, but investigators have not publicly connected program operations to any alleged crimes beyond the teen’s participation.
H.O.O.P.S., which stands for Healthy Opportunities and Options to Promote Success, is operated by New World Believers and has focused on mentorship, sports and tutoring. The Escambia Children’s Trust, which awards grants to youth programs, has provided more than $900,000 to H.O.O.P.S. since 2023, according to public figures cited in local coverage. The trust suspended funding to New World Believers about two weeks ago amid the police investigation, and the organization has surrendered $300,000 back to the trust while the review continues. Jones is also known locally for work with civil rights groups, including the NAACP, but those organizations have not issued detailed public statements about the allegations. No agency has announced changes in policy tied directly to the case.
Under Florida law, sexual battery of a victim age 16 or 17 is a felony, and tampering with a witness is a separate felony offense. The Pensacola Police Department is leading the criminal inquiry. Prosecutors will review investigative files and determine formal charges after receiving complete reports from police. First appearance hearings and arraignment dates were not immediately available Friday in public postings. Police said they would release additional information “as appropriate,” and the Children’s Trust has said program funding remains on hold pending the outcome of law enforcement and administrative reviews. Any future court filings are expected to clarify the evidence, timeline and any further charges.
Outside the jail Friday, the mood was quiet as evening rain rolled through Pensacola. At the gas station on North Pace Boulevard mentioned in the report, customers filtered in and out while music from passing cars cut through traffic noise. A clerk who declined to give a name said they had “heard police were asking around earlier this week.” Near the Gulf Coast Kids House, the advocacy center’s parking lot saw steady traffic as families came and went. “People are following this closely,” said a neighbor in the area who asked not to be named, noting the case’s ties to a well-known youth program.
As of Saturday morning, police described the case as active with no further public updates. The next milestones are expected to include release of the elder Jones’ arrest report and scheduling of initial court appearances. Funding for H.O.O.P.S. remains suspended as the nonprofit’s board and grantor review documents and await the outcome of the criminal investigation.
Author note: Last updated January 25, 2026.