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Donald K. Jewell is charged with four counts of predatory criminal sexual assault against a victim younger than 13, Class X felonies; four counts of criminal sexual assault, Class 1 felonies; and four counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, Class 2 felonies.

Jewell appeared Friday for an initial appearance in custody before Judge William Yoder. Assistant State’s Attorney Daniel Guido filed a petition to detain Jewell on the grounds of dangerousness. 

According to the probable cause statement Guido read in court, on Oct. 21, 2023, the Bloomington Police Department was contacted by a Lubbock, Texas, police detective.

The detective told BPD a minor had disclosed abuse over the course of several years, starting while she lived in Bloomington with a family member. She identified the family member who abused her as Jewell, Guido said.

According to the probable cause statement, on Sept. 29, 2023, the girl wrote a statement at school disclosing her abuse, which she gave to a teacher, who then took it to a school counselor.

The counselor said the girl was visibly distraught before she drew an illustration depicting her abuse. She then became even more upset and told counselors the defendant had “sexually abused her since she could remember,” Guido said. 

The abuse happened as recently as September 2023, Guido said. 

Lubbock police conducted an interview on Oct. 10, 2023, in which the girl spoke of her abuse in more detail. She said the abuse came hand-in-hand with the defendant having his “drink of choice,” an Arizona Iced

Tea and Canadian Club Whiskey.

During a police interview, Jewell confirmed his favorite drink was Canadian Club Whiskey. 

The girl said while staying with Jewell, he had her sleep in his bed, while other children present slept elsewhere.

All others in the household confirmed the girl’s sleeping arrangements with the defendant, Guido said.

Jewell attempted to get the girl to retract her statement by making phone calls while he was being held in detention in Lubbock and again in the McLean County jail, the probable cause statement said.

He told the other children to lie, Guido said, and to say the girl was “overreacting.” 

On Thursday, school resource officers in Lubbock interviewed the girl again. Guide said the girl reported Jewell had written to one of her family members with a request to “write in the victim’s handwriting” to recant the statements made against him.

Guido noted Jewell has previously served 10 years in prison for vehicular manslaughter in Wisconsin. As a part of a plea agreement, two counts of child abuse/neglect were dismissed in that case.

In arguing for his release, Assistant Public Defender Wendy Maulson said Jewell is college-educated, has medical issues and lives states away from girl named as a victim in this case. She said she believed Jewell should be released because his distance from the girl but with a no-contact order in place. 

Maulson said Jewell denies all allegations made against him in this case.

“He’s put pressure on other people to forge documents,” Yoder said in making his decision to detain the defendant. 

Jewell will remain in custody and was ordered to have no contact with the child he is accused of harming nor with any other individual younger than 18.

Jewell is scheduled for a pretrial hearing at 9 a.m. Feb. 24.