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Substitute Teacher Accused In Stabbing

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By VALERIE KALFRIN

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 6, 2008

TAMPA - Deputies arrested a Hillsborough County substitute teacher early Friday after a roommate said the teacher stabbed him in the back with a steak knife.
James Jones Jr., 58, of Brandon is charged with felony aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, felony battery on a law enforcement officer and felony obstructing an officer with violence. He was held at the Orient Road Jail on Friday with bail set at $11,500.

School district spokeswoman Linda Cobbe said Jones was hired as a substitute teacher in August 2001.

The district dismissed him as a result of the arrest, she said. Substitute teachers do not have the same due process as full-time employees, she said.

According to an affidavit, Jones went into the roommate's bedroom at a house on Old Field Drive about 11:35 p.m. Thursday and began an argument. The document does not identify the roommate or say what the argument involved.

The argument turned physical, and Jones grabbed the roommate and stabbed him once in the upper back, causing a 2-inch cut, the affidavit states. Jones then chased the roommate around the house and up the street.

At that point, Deputy Tim Sheridan arrived and tried to separate the men. When Sheridan restrained Jones, Jones elbowed the deputy in the face, the affidavit states.

Reporter Valerie Kalfrin can be reached at (813) 259-7800 or vkalfrin@tampatrib.com.

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