Australian broadcaster Alan Jones has been accused of sexually touching and indecently assaulting at least 35 men, with a new charge added to the previously known 34 counts. He is accused of grabbing and squeezing the bottom of an 11th alleged victim in 2013 in Tamworth, according to documents from the NSW local criminal court and New South Wales police prosecutor.
The incident is described by investigators as an “assault with act of indecency.” Jones is said to have “grab and squeeze left bottom” of the complainant, identified as ‘K,’ according to the allegations. This charge is due for a mention at Sydney’s Downing Centre on Tuesday, the same court where Jones is facing a committal hearing for the other 34 charges. It remains to be seen whether he will need to appear in court for the new charge. Jones is 84 years old.
Jones, who has maintained his innocence, will not be present at the committal hearing. The alleged offenses took place in multiple locations across New South Wales, including Newtown, Sydney city, Fitzroy Falls, Alexandria, and Tamworth. Jones first faced the Downing Centre local court in December, where he was confirmed to face a jury trial. His lawyer stated that Jones would plead not guilty to all of the charges. Jones is a former radio host from Sydney.
Historically, the charges are the result of an investigation by the Strike Force Bonnefin, established by police in March of last year to look into indecent assault and sexual touching incidents involving Jones. Initial allegations were raised by investigative journalist Kate McClymont from the Sydney Morning Herald in December 2023. This led to Jones threatening legal action against Nine newspapers, deeming the reports “demonstrably false.” Jones was arrested at his Circular Quay apartment in Sydney in November last year, following a “long, thorough, protracted” investigation.
When the charges were first brought against Jones in November, the NSW Police Commissioner, Karen Webb, said that more victims could come forward. Once again, the police have announced additional charges, reinforcing this anticipation. The charges against Jones include 11 counts of aggravated indecent assault, 12 counts of assault with act of indecency, two counts of sexual touching another without consent, and two counts of common assault. The victims’ ages are undisclosed, but it is known that the youngest was 17 years old when the offense occurred.
Following his first court appearance, Jones expressed his innocence to reporters. He stated that the allegations were either “baseless or distorted the truth” and affirmed he had not indecently assaulted anyone. He emphasized that the law presumes him not guilty and reiterated that he is not guilty.
