Topline: Police say the woman confessed to assaulting the child at her boyfriend’s direction and sending videos of the acts through Snapchat.
Published: March 17, 2026 8:21 am ET
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Zackery Dondlinger, left, and Madison Paige Jones (via Midlothian Police Department / Winkler County Sheriff's Office)
ELLIS COUNTY, TX — A Texas couple is facing dozens of felony charges after a grand jury indicted them in connection with the alleged sexual abuse of a 5-year-old girl, a case that has drawn widespread attention in part because one of the suspects previously went viral on social media for wearing a Trump hat with her wedding dress.
An Ellis County grand jury on March 4 indicted Zackery Dondlinger, 37, of Happy, Texas, on 20 counts of child sex crimes and his girlfriend, Madison Paige Jones, 30, on 19 counts tied to the same investigation, according to KVII.
Dondlinger’s charges include 13 counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child, three counts of indecency with a child by exposure, two counts of indecency with a child by sexual contact, one count of sexual performance by a child and one count of possession with intent to promote child pornography, KVII reported.
Jones faces 13 counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child, four counts of indecency with a child by exposure, one count of indecency with a child by sexual contact and one count of possession with intent to promote child pornography, according to KVII.
Authorities say the case began in December 2025 when Midlothian police were called to investigate a report of a potential sexual assault involving a child. According to KVII, investigators believe the alleged abuse occurred between Dec. 5 and Dec. 17 and involved a single victim.
Court documents obtained by NewsChannel10 and reported by KFDA state that officers went to the home of a woman on Dec. 17 who identified herself as a friend of Jones. The woman told police that Jones and Dondlinger were in a relationship and that she had concerns about Dondlinger’s behavior toward a 5-year-old child living in Jones’ home.
Officers later interviewed Jones, who confessed to sexually assaulting the child at Dondlinger’s direction, according to affidavits cited by KFDA. In the documents, Jones reported that Dondlinger had been having sexual fantasies about the child.
Affidavits say Jones described the sexual acts in detail and told investigators she recorded them and sent the videos to Dondlinger through Snapchat “to satisfy the sexual needs of Dondlinger,” according to KFDA.
Investigators seized Jones’ iPhone and obtained a search warrant, KFDA reported. One affidavit states that officers located a message from Dondlinger that confirmed Jones’ account that she had acted on his instructions.
Police also collected additional electronic evidence in the case. According to KFDA, an iPad was taken from Jones as evidence and two iPhones were seized from Dondlinger at the time of his arrest.
Jones was arrested two days after the alleged abuse period ended, according to KVII. At the time, she was working as a substitute teacher. Midlothian Independent School District later issued a statement saying Jones was no longer employed by the district and provided the last dates she had worked as a substitute, KFDA reported.
Dondlinger was arrested two days before Christmas at an oil rig site about an hour west of Odessa, according to KVII. KFDA reported that he was initially taken into custody Dec. 23 in Loving County and held at the Winkler County Detention Center on a lesser-degree felony before later being extradited to Ellis County and arraigned on an enhanced charge of sexual performance by a child, a first-degree felony.
Following the grand jury indictments, Dondlinger’s bond was increased from $200,000 to $5 million, according to KVII. KFDA reported that Jones’ bond was set at $90,000 and that Dondlinger’s bond had also previously been raised to $250,000 earlier in the case.
Both suspects were being held at the Ellis County Jail at the time of reporting, according to KFDA.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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Woman Indicted for Abusing 5-Year-Old ‘to Satisfy’ Boyfriend, Investigators Say
Police say the woman confessed to assaulting the child at her boyfriend’s direction and sending videos of the acts through Snapchat.
By Jacob Charles
Published: March 17, 2026 8:21 am ET
Zackery Dondlinger, left, and Madison Paige Jones (via Midlothian Police Department / Winkler County Sheriff's Office)
ELLIS COUNTY, TX — A Texas couple is facing dozens of felony charges after a grand jury indicted them in connection with the alleged sexual abuse of a 5-year-old girl, a case that has drawn widespread attention in part because one of the suspects previously went viral on social media for wearing a Trump hat with her wedding dress.
An Ellis County grand jury on March 4 indicted Zackery Dondlinger, 37, of Happy, Texas, on 20 counts of child sex crimes and his girlfriend, Madison Paige Jones, 30, on 19 counts tied to the same investigation, according to KVII.
Dondlinger’s charges include 13 counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child, three counts of indecency with a child by exposure, two counts of indecency with a child by sexual contact, one count of sexual performance by a child and one count of possession with intent to promote child pornography, KVII reported.
Jones faces 13 counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child, four counts of indecency with a child by exposure, one count of indecency with a child by sexual contact and one count of possession with intent to promote child pornography, according to KVII.
Authorities say the case began in December 2025 when Midlothian police were called to investigate a report of a potential sexual assault involving a child. According to KVII, investigators believe the alleged abuse occurred between Dec. 5 and Dec. 17 and involved a single victim.
Court documents obtained by NewsChannel10 and reported by KFDA state that officers went to the home of a woman on Dec. 17 who identified herself as a friend of Jones. The woman told police that Jones and Dondlinger were in a relationship and that she had concerns about Dondlinger’s behavior toward a 5-year-old child living in Jones’ home.
Officers later interviewed Jones, who confessed to sexually assaulting the child at Dondlinger’s direction, according to affidavits cited by KFDA. In the documents, Jones reported that Dondlinger had been having sexual fantasies about the child.
Affidavits say Jones described the sexual acts in detail and told investigators she recorded them and sent the videos to Dondlinger through Snapchat “to satisfy the sexual needs of Dondlinger,” according to KFDA.
Investigators seized Jones’ iPhone and obtained a search warrant, KFDA reported. One affidavit states that officers located a message from Dondlinger that confirmed Jones’ account that she had acted on his instructions.
Police also collected additional electronic evidence in the case. According to KFDA, an iPad was taken from Jones as evidence and two iPhones were seized from Dondlinger at the time of his arrest.
Jones was arrested two days after the alleged abuse period ended, according to KVII. At the time, she was working as a substitute teacher. Midlothian Independent School District later issued a statement saying Jones was no longer employed by the district and provided the last dates she had worked as a substitute, KFDA reported.
Dondlinger was arrested two days before Christmas at an oil rig site about an hour west of Odessa, according to KVII. KFDA reported that he was initially taken into custody Dec. 23 in Loving County and held at the Winkler County Detention Center on a lesser-degree felony before later being extradited to Ellis County and arraigned on an enhanced charge of sexual performance by a child, a first-degree felony.
Following the grand jury indictments, Dondlinger’s bond was increased from $200,000 to $5 million, according to KVII. KFDA reported that Jones’ bond was set at $90,000 and that Dondlinger’s bond had also previously been raised to $250,000 earlier in the case.
Both suspects were being held at the Ellis County Jail at the time of reporting, according to KFDA.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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Latest Articles
Woman Indicted for Abusing 5-Year-Old ‘to Satisfy’ Boyfriend, Investigators Say
Police say the woman confessed to assaulting the child at her boyfriend’s direction and sending videos of the acts through Snapchat.
By Jacob Charles
Published: March 17, 2026 8:21 am ET
Zackery Dondlinger, left, and Madison Paige Jones (via Midlothian Police Department / Winkler County Sheriff's Office)
ELLIS COUNTY, TX — A Texas couple is facing dozens of felony charges after a grand jury indicted them in connection with the alleged sexual abuse of a 5-year-old girl, a case that has drawn widespread attention in part because one of the suspects previously went viral on social media for wearing a Trump hat with her wedding dress.
An Ellis County grand jury on March 4 indicted Zackery Dondlinger, 37, of Happy, Texas, on 20 counts of child sex crimes and his girlfriend, Madison Paige Jones, 30, on 19 counts tied to the same investigation, according to KVII.
Dondlinger’s charges include 13 counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child, three counts of indecency with a child by exposure, two counts of indecency with a child by sexual contact, one count of sexual performance by a child and one count of possession with intent to promote child pornography, KVII reported.
Jones faces 13 counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child, four counts of indecency with a child by exposure, one count of indecency with a child by sexual contact and one count of possession with intent to promote child pornography, according to KVII.
Authorities say the case began in December 2025 when Midlothian police were called to investigate a report of a potential sexual assault involving a child. According to KVII, investigators believe the alleged abuse occurred between Dec. 5 and Dec. 17 and involved a single victim.
Court documents obtained by NewsChannel10 and reported by KFDA state that officers went to the home of a woman on Dec. 17 who identified herself as a friend of Jones. The woman told police that Jones and Dondlinger were in a relationship and that she had concerns about Dondlinger’s behavior toward a 5-year-old child living in Jones’ home.
Officers later interviewed Jones, who confessed to sexually assaulting the child at Dondlinger’s direction, according to affidavits cited by KFDA. In the documents, Jones reported that Dondlinger had been having sexual fantasies about the child.
Affidavits say Jones described the sexual acts in detail and told investigators she recorded them and sent the videos to Dondlinger through Snapchat “to satisfy the sexual needs of Dondlinger,” according to KFDA.
Investigators seized Jones’ iPhone and obtained a search warrant, KFDA reported. One affidavit states that officers located a message from Dondlinger that confirmed Jones’ account that she had acted on his instructions.
Police also collected additional electronic evidence in the case. According to KFDA, an iPad was taken from Jones as evidence and two iPhones were seized from Dondlinger at the time of his arrest.
Jones was arrested two days after the alleged abuse period ended, according to KVII. At the time, she was working as a substitute teacher. Midlothian Independent School District later issued a statement saying Jones was no longer employed by the district and provided the last dates she had worked as a substitute, KFDA reported.
Dondlinger was arrested two days before Christmas at an oil rig site about an hour west of Odessa, according to KVII. KFDA reported that he was initially taken into custody Dec. 23 in Loving County and held at the Winkler County Detention Center on a lesser-degree felony before later being extradited to Ellis County and arraigned on an enhanced charge of sexual performance by a child, a first-degree felony.
Following the grand jury indictments, Dondlinger’s bond was increased from $200,000 to $5 million, according to KVII. KFDA reported that Jones’ bond was set at $90,000 and that Dondlinger’s bond had also previously been raised to $250,000 earlier in the case.
Both suspects were being held at the Ellis County Jail at the time of reporting, according to KFDA.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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