Texas substitute teacher, boyfriend charged with sexual abuse of 5-year-old

A shocking case has emerged from the small town of Happy in northern Texas, where a substitute teacher and her boyfriend are facing serious charges of child sex crimes involving a 5-year-old girl. Madison Paige Jones, 30, and Zackery Dondlinger, 37, have been indicted on a total of 39 counts related to the abuse, with bonds set at nearly $9 million.

The alleged incidents took place between December 5-17, 2025, and were reported to the police in Midlothian, Texas. Authorities were alerted to the sexual assault involving the young child on December 17, leading to the arrest of Jones two days later.

According to court documents, a concerned friend of Jones raised the alarm about Dondlinger’s inappropriate behavior towards the child in Jones’ home. During police questioning, Jones admitted to the abuse, stating that Dondlinger had instructed her to engage in the acts. She also revealed that Dondlinger had sexual fantasies involving the child and that she had sent him videos of the assaults via Snapchat.

Jones, who was working as a substitute teacher for the Midlothian Independent School District at the time, faces multiple charges, including aggravated sexual assault of a child, indecency with a child, and possession of child pornography. Dondlinger, who was apprehended on an oil rig near Odessa, Texas, is charged with similar offenses, including aggravated sexual assault, indecency with a child, and possession of child pornography.

As part of the investigation, authorities seized electronic devices belonging to both Jones and Dondlinger. The Midlothian ISD confirmed that Jones is no longer employed by the district and provided details of her last days working as a substitute teacher.

This disturbing case highlights the importance of vigilance and reporting suspicious behavior to protect vulnerable individuals from harm. The legal process will now proceed as the defendants face the consequences of their alleged actions.