BILLINGS, MT — A Roundup man has agreed to plead guilty to multiple charges of child sexual abuse, involving three young victims. Billy Edward Jones, 57, will formally plead guilty to 14 felony counts in Musselshell County District Court, according to a plea agreement signed on Friday.
Jones faces 11 counts of sexual abuse of children, two counts of sexual intercourse without consent, and one count of incest. In exchange for the guilty plea, prosecutors will recommend that Jones receive a 100-year prison sentence with no possibility of parole for the most serious charges. The sentences are expected to run concurrently.
Court documents reveal the disturbing details of Jones’ offenses. He admitted to recording videos of the victims—two children, aged 8 and 9—engaged in sexually explicit acts. Jones also confessed to digitally penetrating one child and raping another. These actions were uncovered during an investigation that involved a significant amount of evidence and testimony from the victims.
The crimes have shocked the local community, with many expressing horror over the abuse. Musselshell County District Court Judge Michael Hayworth will ultimately decide on Jones’ sentence during a future hearing. The plea agreement ensures that Jones will remain incarcerated for a significant period of time, pending the judge’s ruling.
Jones, who is already listed on the Montana Sexual or Violent Offenders Registry, was previously convicted in Oklahoma in 1996 for lewd or indecent proposals to a child. His criminal history and the severity of the current charges have led to widespread concern about the safety of children in the area.
This case has sparked conversations about the ongoing efforts to protect children from sexual exploitation and to ensure that perpetrators of such crimes face appropriate consequences. Authorities continue to encourage anyone with information about similar offenses to come forward, emphasizing the importance of vigilance and support for victims of abuse.
