MSOP Staff Member Assaulted by Client in Moose Lake
The man accused in a violent assault of a Minnesota Sex Offender Program staff member Monday afternoon in Moose Lake is identified as Nicolas Aron-Jones, 29.
Aron-Jones was arrested, taken to the Carlton County Jail and booked on suspicion of 2nd- and 4th-degree assault. The 59-year-old male staff member was airlifted to a hospital with injuries, reportedly beaten in the head with a metal object that had been wrapped in a pillowcase.
Prior convictions for Aron-Jones include a 2015 assault with bodily fluids on a staff member in the same facility. The staff member was trying to secure Aron-Jones after he damaged about $1500 worth of property inside the facility.
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Aron-Jones was convicted of a 2017 assault on another resident of the treatment facility, resulting in visible injuries and the victim's loss of consciousness. He was also convicted for a 2019 violent outburst that involved $2100 in property damage within the facility, some of which was caused by swinging a sock containing a hairbrush at objects, and numerous violent threats against staff members.
In 2020, Aron-Jones allegedly bit a staff member—resulting in an open wound—while the victim was trying to put a spit mask on Aron-Jones, who had punched a staff member and was reportedly spitting on them.
"We are deeply disturbed by such a brutal, senseless attack," MSOP Executive Director Nancy Johnston said in a written statement. "I’m grateful to those who tried to intervene and protect our coworker. Our hearts are with him and his family, and we’ll be there to support him as he recovers."
Aron-Jones has since been formally charged with 2nd-degree attempted murder, 1st-degree assault, 2nd-degree assault with a dangerous weapon and 4th-degree assault against a secure treatment facility employee.
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