Alan Jones, Australian broadcaster, accused of sexual assault
Veteran Australian broadcaster Alan Jones was charged on Monday with 20 offenses of sexual assault and indecent assault. The alleged crimes go back about twenty years.
Jones was arrested by New South Wales Police at his home in Sydney on Monday morning and taken to the police station, where he was charged and released on bail to appear in court on December 18.
He was charged with 11 counts of aggravated indecent assault, nine counts of indecency, two counts of sexually touching a person without consent and a further two counts of common assault.
“Allegations have been made, nothing has been tested, nothing has been proven,” Jones’ lawyer Chris Murphy said outside the police station, according to Australian media. “Alan Jones will properly assert his innocence in court.”
Police said Jones knew the eight alleged victims through various means — some personally, others he employed — and that the youngest was 17 years old when the alleged attack occurred. The alleged incidents took place between 2001 and 2019.
New South Wales Police Assistant Commissioner Michael Fitzgerald said media reports had prompted the investigation into Jones by the child abuse squad.
Jones, now 83, was also a successful coach of the Australian national rugby union team, known as the Wallabies, from 1984 to 1987. He had a broadcasting career that started in 1985 and lasted about 35 years. He made his debut as a news presenter on Sydney’s 2UE and joined Sky News and breakfast radio 2GB in 2002. He held that role for 18 years and joined conservative streaming channel ADH TV in 2021, where he remained until last year.
SBS News reported that before entering the broadcasting field, Jones was also a speechwriter for former Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser and an English teacher at the King’s School in Sydney.
