A Call for Witnesses: Survivors of Sexual Predator John Earl Jones

PCVA is seeking anyone with information about sexual abuse perpetuated by former Jehovah’s Witnesses church leader John Earl Jones. The abuse occurred in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s when Jones was a member of various Jehovah’s Witnesses congregations in Spokane, Washington, as well as in Sacramento, California.

PCVA recently settled several cases on behalf of survivors of Jones’ abuse. We believe there are more individuals out there who suffered and deserve their chance at justice. If you have more information about John Earl Jones and his history of perpetuating sexual abuse against minors, please fill out our online form to contact one of our experienced sexual abuse attorneys.

This article provides information about John Earl Jones and his history of sexual abuse, the impact of sexual abuse on its victims, and PCVA’s history of providing trauma-informed counsel to survivors of sexual abuse.

Who is John Earl Jones?

Jones was a church leader for a Jehovah’s Witnesses congregation operating in Spokane, Washington. The congregation went by multiple names over the years, including the South Hill Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses, the Southeast Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses, and South Hill Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Jones was also involved with the Jehovah’s Witnesses in Sacramento, California in the 1990s.

Jones used his position of trust and authority to groom young boys who were members of the church and sexually abuse them.

When did the John Earl Jones commit sexual abuse?

Jones’ predatory behavior toward young boys at the church dates back to the 1970s and continued into the 1980s. Victims may have been as young as 8 years old. Jones also has been convicted following multiple incidents of sexual abuse. In one such instance in 1984, Jones plead guilty to lewd and lascivious conduct after molesting a 14-year-old boy. He was sentenced to five years of probation. Jones was also convicted in 2007 for sexual abuse of a child in California.

How common is sexual abuse within churches and other religious institutions?

Over the past 20 years, news about church sexual abuse has come out with alarming frequency. In 2004, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops released a report showing that 4% of Catholic Church priests had been credibly accused of sexually abusing children in the second half of the 20th century. Since then, hundreds of thousands of survivors have come forward about being sexually abused by priests. In New York State alone, lawsuits alleging abuse by more than 1,700 clergy and staff were filed in just two years between 2019 and 2021.You can learn more about church sexual abuse here.

How does sexual abuse impact survivors?

Even if there is no outward injury to the body, sexual abuse can have serious psychological effects.

The effects of sexual violence can include:

• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Flashbacks
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Dissociation
• Panic attacks
• Substance abuse
• Disordered sleep
• Sexual dysfunction

These are serious issues that can harm a person’s ability to work, study, maintain relationships and enjoy their lives the way they used to. Treatment for sexual abuse-related damage can take a long time and become very expensive.

How long do I have to file a lawsuit in Washington State if I was sexually assaulted or abused?

Washington State statute gives adults over the age of 18 three years to file a civil childhood sexual abuse action from:

• The time of the act itself
• The time the victim discovered that an injury or condition was caused by the act
• The time the victim discovered that the act caused the injury

This means that in Washington State, you can sue for childhood sexual abuse many years, or even decades, after the abuse occurred. The clock starts running from the moment a survivor connects the injury to the abuse. You can learn more about Washington’s statute of limitations for civil claims of sexual abuse here.

Can I come forward or sue anonymously if I’m worried about my privacy?

Most likely. The law usually allows attorneys to file lawsuits on behalf of survivors of sexual abuse using a pseudonym, like “John Doe” or “Jane Doe,” or our client’s initials. Moreover, it may be possible to resolve your case privately without filing a lawsuit or going to court.

How can survivors receive damages for sexual abuse?

Our attorneys have been involved in some of the most complicated and concerning sexual abuse cases in the country and are often consulted by other law firms for guidance and expertise when representing sexual abuse survivors. We take a trauma-informed approach to our representation that acknowledges the sensitive nature of these cases.

Every case is different and results – which depend on the facts of the case – cannot be guaranteed. However, we will fight to hold accountable the institutions and individuals who failed to protect survivors. Through our efforts, we have helped recover hundreds of millions of dollars in damages on behalf of abuse survivors. While no amount of monetary compensation can erase the trauma of abuse, the financial assistance can help pay for necessary expenses to allow the healing process to begin

If you or someone you know has experienced sexual abuse or assault at the hands of John Earl Jones, our attorneys are here to listen and help. Learn more about how we help sexual abuse survivors or schedule a no obligation consultation with one of our lawyers by completing our online form or by calling us at  (206) 536-2850. 

How much do you charge?

Our work is done on a contingency basis. This means that you do not pay us on an hourly basis, and we advance the costs of litigation. If we help you resolve your case, we receive a percentage of the amount you receive, and you reimburse us for the costs we advanced on your behalf.

Our Case Results

PCVA has a lengthy history of pursuing damages from religious institutions that employed individuals, including members of clergy, church leaders, and church volunteers, who abused their positions to commit sexual abuse. You can read more about our case results here.

Some additional results we have achieved for our clients are listed below.

$55M Settlement from the Diocese of Rochester, NY for Dozens of Sexual Abuse Survivors
$9.15M Settlement for Eight Women Sexually Abused in the Seattle Archdiocese
$1.46M Settlement in Two Sex Abuse Lawsuits Against Seattle Archdiocese
$1.1M Settlement in Church of Latter-Day Saints Sex Abuse Lawsuit
$725K Settlement in Sexual Abuse Case Against Seattle Archdiocese