A former substitute teacher from Texas, along with her partner, is now confronting a staggering total of 38 charges related to child sexual offenses, with bail amounts totaling nearly $9 million.
Madison Paige Jones, who once worked in the Midlothian Independent School District, and her boyfriend, Zackery Dondlinger, were initially detained in December. Their arrests followed an investigation by Midlothian police into claims concerning a 5-year-old child residing in Jones’ household.
Initially, Jones’ bail was established at $90,000 and Dondlinger’s at $250,000. However, after new charges emerged earlier this month, their bail amounts saw a significant increase.
Jones is now facing multiple allegations, including 13 counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child, one count of child pornography possession, two counts of indecency with a child involving sexual contact, and three counts related to indecent exposure with a child.
Madison Jones, aged 30, was taken into custody by the Midlothian Police Department on December 19, 2025. (Ellis County Sheriff’s Office)
Dondlinger is charged with one count of engaging in sexual performance by a child under 14, alongside 13 counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child, two counts of indecency with a child involving sexual contact, three counts of indecent exposure with a child, and one felony warrant.
Dondlinger’s bond is now set at $5 million, while Jones’ bond stands at $3.8 million.
NBC affiliate NewsChannel10 in Amarillo reported that court documents show Midlothian police were called to the home of a woman on Dec. 17 who identified herself as a friend of Jones.
Zackery Dondlinger faces several child sex crimes in Ellis County, Texas. (Ellis County Sheriff’s Office)
The woman told officers she was concerned about Dondlinger’s behavior toward a 5-year-old child who lived in Jones’ home. Jones and Dondlinger were in a relationship at the time.
According to the documents, Jones allegedly told investigators Dondlinger directed her to sexually assault the child and that she carried out the acts. The documents also state that Jones told authorities Dondlinger had sexual fantasies involving the child.
Affidavits obtained by the station say Jones described the sexual acts to investigators and told police she recorded videos of the abuse and sent them to Dondlinger through Snapchat.
A Texas substitute teacher was arrested and charged with multiple felony offenses, including aggravated sexual assault of a child on Dec. 19, 2025. (fstop123/iStock via Getty Images Plus)
Investigators later seized Jones’ iPhone while executing a search warrant, and an affidavit reportedly states the phone contained a message from Dondlinger that supported Jones’ account of acting at his direction. Authorities also seized an iPad from Jones, while two iPhones were taken from Dondlinger at the time of his arrest.
Jones was first arrested Dec. 19 after police began investigating a report two days earlier of a potential child sexual assault.
Detectives later identified Dondlinger, 37, as a second suspect in the case, and he was arrested Dec. 23 and charged with sexual performance by a child, according to the Midlothian Police Department.
Midlothian police previously told Fox News Digital that Jones and Dondlinger had been in a dating relationship.
The Midlothian Independent School District said Jones is no longer employed by the district and confirmed she had worked as a substitute teacher on four occasions during the previous year. School officials also said they have no information suggesting the allegations are connected to Jones’ work or occurred on school property.
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