Substitute Teacher, Boyfriend Both Jailed in Child Sex Case

KERMIT, TX — A 37-year-old man with ties to Happy, Texas, is in custody in Winkler County on a second-degree felony charge of sexual performance by a child, according to the Winkler County Sheriff’s Office.

Zackery Harold Dondlinger was apprehended Dec. 23 at a rig site in Loving County and taken into custody by law enforcement, the sheriff’s office said. He is being held at the Winkler County Detention Center on a $200,000 bond while awaiting extradition to Ellis County.

Investigators identified Dondlinger as a second suspect following the Dec. 19 arrest of Madison Jones, 30, who was taken into custody by officers with the Midlothian Police Department, according to the sheriff’s office. Jones was arrested on charges of aggravated sexual assault of a child, possession of child pornography involving more than 500 visual depictions, and two counts of indecency with a child by sexual contact.

The sheriff’s office said detectives later connected Dondlinger to the case and obtained a warrant for his arrest on the sexual performance by a child charge.

According to the sheriff’s office, Jones is reportedly a substitute teacher, and authorities said she and Dondlinger were in a dating relationship.