Rockford man charged with sexual assault, accused of ‘drugging’ women

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — Rockford Police arrested Derrick Jones, 35, for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman after “drugging” her.

On May 27, 2023, officers went to Javon Bea Hospital on East Riverside for reports of a woman who was sexually assaulted. The victim told officers she suspected that someone had drugged her while she was drinking with a group of people at CJ’s Public House Lounge.

The victim blacked out at one point and could not remember much of the night, according to court records. Another woman, who was drinking with the group, told officials she also felt like she was drugged.

Jones was handing shots to multiple people, court documents show.

The victim’s toxicology report tested positive for THC and Gamma-Hydroxybutyric (GHB). GHB’s possible effects on the body include unconsciousness, seizures, slowed heart rate, coma and death, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration.

The DEA also said one of the drugs’ common street names is “Easy Lay.”

Jones was found by officers in the Winnebago County Courthouse while he appeared for a traffic court pretrial hearing. Authorities had a swab search warrant, which Jones participated in.

The Illinois State Crime Lab’s analysis and testing “very strongly supported” that Jones and the victim had sexual relations, according to court records.

Jones is charged with criminal sexual assault without consent.

He was booked into the Winnebago County Jail on July 16.