CLAY COUNTY, Fla. — A former bailiff with the Clay County Sheriff’s Office has been arrested and charged with grand theft and scheming to defraud after allegedly forging military leave documents and collecting thousands of dollars in unearned pay.

According to the sheriff’s office, Johnathon Jones submitted falsified documents from the Georgia State Defense Force claiming he was on military leave between February 2024 and February 2025. Investigators said he reported 39 days of leave and received $8,115.28 in compensation from CCSO.

Detectives began investigating Jones in late March after receiving information about the fraudulent documents. They discovered that Jones, while claiming to be on GSDF duty, was actually present in Clay, Duval, St. Johns and Orange counties on 30 of those dates. The sheriff’s office said the fabricated records included details of missions and training events that GSDF officials confirmed Jones did not attend.

Jones was booked into the Clay County Jail on Monday, April 21, 2025. He has since resigned from his position with the sheriff’s office.

The Clay County Sheriff’s Office said the investigation remains ongoing.