Jordan Graves worked at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas for sometime in the years after he committed sex assault of a minor in Montana. Prestonwood is a Southern Baptist megachurch led by pastor Jack Graham. He first volunteered in the student and kids ministries and then was employed on staff in the kids ministry. He left Prestonwood in late 2021 shortly before his arrest.
Jordan was charged in December 2021 with sexual intercourse without consent and sexual assault. According to charging documents, in 2011 Graves was employed by MCPS, first as a student teacher, then a substitute teacher and coach for “several” high school sports teams.
She told detectives she met Graves during her freshman year, in the fall of 2010 when she was 15. She told police Graves was student teaching in her gym class.
Court documents outline multiple incidents.
Doe recalled Graves sending her messages, driving by her house, and being sexually forceful.
When interviewed by police, court documents allege Graves admitted sexual relationships with at least three other students.
After a plea deal, Jordan K. Graves, a former student teacher at Sentinel High School in Missoula, Montana, was sentenced in November 2023 for sexually abusing minors. Following the sentencing, he was required to register as a sex offender. Graves received a 20-year sentence to the Montana State Prison, with all time suspended, meaning he will serve his sentence under supervision rather than in physical prison, provided he adheres to all conditions. He was convicted of one count of sexual assault of a minor by common scheme, a felony. The abuse occurred in 2011. Reports indicate that evidence included recorded interviews where Jordan admitted to the sexual assault.
He entered an Alford plea court filings show. Under an Alford plea, a defendant does not admit guilt but acknowledges prosecutors have enough evidence to gain a conviction.
The survivor, who was 15 at the time of the assault, said Graves “intentionally coerced” his way into spaces where children are supposed to feel safe, namely schools and churches. According to prosecutors, Graves was student-teaching the woman’s gym class at Sentinel in 2010 when they started texting outside of school hours. At one point, Graves picked her up for a school dance but instead took her up Highway 12 to a campground and assaulted her, charging documents state.
“Nothing Mr. Graves did was an accident,” the survivor said in court on Friday. “It was all premeditated. You Jordan — you planned everything down to the last detail.”
A subsequent affidavit included the amended “common scheme” charge. It details three additional accusers who were students at Sentinel while Graves was employed there as a student gym teacher, according to court documents.
“You cannot imagine the everlasting damages Mr. Graves single-handedly inflicted on me and so many other girls,” the survivor said.
Graves spoke to the court, apologizing to the survivors. He described the relationship with the first survivor as a “mutually enjoyed friendship” and maintained his innocence, but said he was “guilty of causing hurt.”
“I was naive to think that I could care for (the woman) beyond my official capacity as a school employee,” he said.
The 20-year suspended sentence imposed followed what was recommended between defense and prosecution attorneys in the plea agreement. Missoula County District Judge Jason Marks acknowledged it was possibly too light for the level of harm Graves caused, but noted the alternative, a trial, and potential acquittal, could have left Graves a free man.
Judge Jason Marks acknowledged it was possibly too light for the level of harm Graves caused, but noted the alternative, a trial, and potential acquittal, could have left Graves a free man.
“That is the only reason I’m going to follow this plea agreement, not because I think it’s appropriate for the conduct you engaged in,” Marks said. “But because I think the quite possible alternative would be significantly worse for the safety of the community.”
The timeline reveals that Jordan Graves committed child sexual assault before he was volunteering and working with kids at Prestonwood Baptist Church. Did Prestonwood inform all parents? And ask for anyone harmed by him to make a report to law enforcement? Predators rarely have just one victim, and he admitted to having multiple. Did he assault kids at Prestonwood?
Now registered sex offender Jordan Graves is serving as a deacon at Missoula Alliance Church in Montana. Did the church do a background check? Do they care?
The light of truth is our greatest tool to protect kids and vulnerable adults.