Former firefighter sentenced to life in prison for arranging home-invasion rape of female acquaintance
06/15/2026 8:00 pm PDT
TARRANT COUNTY, Texas (TCN) -- A 54-year-old man has been sentenced to life in prison for aggravated sexual assault in connection with a February 2025 attack.
Joel Jones worked with the Everman, Texas, fire department as deputy chief at the time of the attack, KDFW reports. At trial, jurors learned Jones used a dating website to recruit someone to carry out a sexual assault, which he falsely framed as a consensual fantasy. Jones successfully recruited Tobasia Griffiths and had him break into the victim’s house on Feb. 21, 2025, enter her bedroom to assault her, and record it, according to the Tarrant County District Attorney.
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports Jones told Griffiths the woman consented and paid him $100 to commit the assault.
According to KDFW, the victim, whose name has not been released, was a devout Catholic. During the sexual assault, she reportedly tried to fight off Griffiths with a lamp and at one point was able to convince him that she needed to use the restroom. Under those pretenses, she left the home to run to safety. She later called Jones for help, not knowing he had planned the attack. Jones then dialed 911 on the victim’s behalf.
The investigation revealed that shortly after the attack on Feb. 21, 2025, Jones tried to arrange for her to be kidnapped and assaulted again in an attempt to break her and destroy her faith, according to the DA. Following the attack, Tobasia reportedly sent the audio recording of it to Jones.
According to Dallas Express, police were able to apprehend Griffiths after the victim got a partial license plate. Jones was arrested on March 26, 2025, and Griffiths was arrested on March 30, 2025. Following his arrest, Jones was placed on administrative leave at the fire department while they conducted their own investigation.
KDFW reports that during closing statements, Assistant District Attorney Kim D’Avignon said, “There is evil in our world and it’s sitting right there. … He wanted to take the most precious part of her and break it.”
Griffiths pleaded guilty to aggravated sexual assault but cooperated with the prosecution against Jones, according to the DA. Jones pleaded guilty to aggravated sexual assault on June 12 and was sentenced to life in prison after the jury deliberated for 20 minutes.
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