Additional charges filed against former Tulsa Co. juvenile detention officer

UPDATE (8/27/2024) — A former Tulsa County Juvenile Detention employee is facing more charges.

Jonathan Hines was arrested in April, accused of paying a teen in custody for sex.

Prosecutors filed two more charges Monday — one for having a cell phone in a jail or prison and another for soliciting a minor for indecent exposure or obscene mail.

FOX23 is working to learn more and will follow this for updates.

UPDATE (6/5/2024) — More charges have been filed against a former staff member at the Tulsa County Juvenile Detention Center in Tulsa who was arrested in April for allegedly having sex with a 17-year-old resident, according to court documents.

Jonathan Hines was arrested and booked into Tulsa County jail on April 26 for child human trafficking, carrying or possessing a cell phone in jail or prison and destroying evidence.

According to court documents, Hines is now also charged with one count of soliciting a minor for indecent exposure/photos and one count of carrying or possessing a cell phone in jail or prison.

TULSA, Okla. — A staff member at the Tulsa County Juvenile Detention Center in Tulsa was arrested and is accused of having sex with a 17-year-old resident.

On April 17, a Tulsa County investigator responded to the Juvenile Detention Center in regard to a rape investigation.

The 17-year-old victim told administrators he was "mad and wanted his money". When he was asked about what he was talking about, the victim said a staff member at the detention center, later identified as Jonathan Hines, acted like the victim's toilet needed to be plunged and had sex with the victim inside the victim's cell.

The investigator collected DNA swabs and surveillance footage outside the victim's cell. The investigator was also made aware of a $20 bill that Hines gave to the victim, which was later provided to Tulsa County Sheriff's Office as evidence.

On April 18, investigators interviewed Hines at the detention center where Hines denied the allegations against him. However, he did admit to investigators that he brought candy and snacks into the jail for the victim and his friends. He also denied that he gave the victim money and said the allegations his boss told him were "mind blowing".

Hines told investigators that the only time the victim and him were alone together was when they got back from lunch or dinner and when he helped the victim unclog his toilet.

Following the interview, Hines consented to investigators collecting a DNA swab and searching through his phone.

On April 19, investigators interviewed the victim who said that Hines had a reputation of bringing contraband into the detention center for inmates including weed products and money. Hines had made contact with the victim through another resident at the detention center. The victim said that Hines told him that he was going act like he is plunging his room and that is when they are going to "do it". The victim told investigators that he had sex with Hines in his cell and said he was supposed to get weed products in return, which he said he never got.

Instead of weed, Hines later gave the victim two $20 bills. The victim also said that he gave Hines some money in return for snacks, which Hines later brought,

The victim also claimed that Hines was bringing another inmate weed products and letting the same inmate use his phone.

Hines was arrested and booked into Tulsa County jail on April 26 for child human trafficking, carrying or possessing a cell phone in jail or prison and destroying evidence.

On Monday, Hines appeared in court for a bond hearing where his bond was set at $200,000 and he was ordered to have no contact with the victim. He was also ordered to not be within 2,000 feet of any schools, parks or churches.

His next court date is scheduled for Thursday.

Tulsa County issued the following statement about the arrest.

"In Oklahoma, the Juvenile Bureaus are operated by the Juvenile Division of the District Court. Tulsa County does not manage or have direct oversight of the operations at the Family Center for Juvenile Justice.

Tulsa County has been made aware of the situation at the Family Center for Juvenile Justice. The allegations against the juvenile detention officer are very serious. Safe and secure housing for the juvenile offenders is of the utmost importance. As the matter is under investigation, we cannot comment further at this time."

Tulsa County Family Center for Juvenile Justice issued the following statement about the arrest.

“Recently, a series of incidents have come to light that have occurred in the detention facility of the Tulsa County Family Center for Juvenile Justice. Any crime against a child is an abomination, more so when it is committed by those entrusted with the responsibility to care for some of our most vulnerable youth. FCJJ is unwavering in its commitment to providing a secure environment for the juveniles in our care. FCJJ is licensed by the Oklahoma Office of Juvenile Affairs (OJA.) For the last year, OJA has been in our facility weekly, engaged with our detainees, employees, and staff. They have unlimited access to the FCJJ, including access to our staff, detainees, and security cameras. FCJJ’s policies encourage staff and detainees to immediately report any potential misconduct, regardless of who the alleged perpetrator might be. As required by our licensing, FCJJ has reported each incident that has come to our attention to both OJA and law enforcement. In each incident, the offending employee was immediately terminated. The most recent incident was promptly referred to the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office, and their investigation resulted in an arrest and felony charges for a former employee. FCJJ will continue to work closely with OJA, law enforcement, and the Tulsa County District Attorney’s Office to both protect the young people entrusted to our care as well as holding accountable those who violate that trust.“