A Louisiana man pled guilty in Rockbridge County Circuit Court on May 18 to one count of aggravated sexual battery and one count of taking indecent liberties with a minor while serving as their custodian.
Jonathan Lee Hise, 35, of Amite, La., – and a former resident of Hot Springs – was sentenced to a total of 15 years for both charges – 10 for the indecent liberties charge and five for the aggravated sexual battery charge, to be served consecutively – of which 10 was suspended, leaving him with an active sentence of five years. Upon release, Hise will be on supervised probation for five years and must be on good behavior for 10 years. He was also ordered to undergo a mental health assessment and abide by any recommendations that result from that assessment, to have no contact with the victim, and to register as a sex offender.
During the hearing, Chief Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Megan Zwisohn summarized the evidence the commonwealth would have presented at trial. The evidence would have shown that on Aug. 21, 2024, the victim, who was nine years old at the time, had made statements that led to a report being filed and a forensic interview being conducted. The victim said that Hise had offered her weed on one occasion and had “tried to touch her” on another. The victim also made statements that, on one occasion during which Hise was serving as custodian over the victim, they had been sitting on the couch and she had been giving him a hug, during which he had his hands over her underwear and a thumb under her underwear which was “touching her private part.”
Hise was directly indicted by a Rockbridge County Grand Jury on Nov. 4, 2024 on the charges to which he pled guilty, with the indictments spanning a time period of Jan.1, 2024 through Aug. 21, 2024. According to a press release sent out Friday about the case, investigators attempted to locate Hise locally and in surrounding jurisdictions, but were unsuccessful in locating him. It was later determined that he had fled Virginia and was believed to be in Louisiana. Local law enforcement worked with the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force and the Middle Louisiana Fugitive Task Force – both multi-agency partnerships led by the United States Marshals Service – to locate and apprehend Hise. He was arrested without incident in April of 2025 and extradited back to Virginia.
In addition to these charges, Hise also pled guilty in Bath County Circuit Court on April 6 to one count of using a computer to propose sex to a minor on Jan. 25, 2025. He was sentenced to 15 years, 10 of which were suspended. Four other counts of the same charge were not pursued by the Bath County Commonwealth’s Attorney.
“This case is about the courage of a young victim who spoke up and refused to be silenced,” McFaddin said in the press release. “Because of that courage – and a team that never backed down – this offender is now being held accountable. Let there be no mistake: if you harm a child, we will find you, we will work with every partner necessary, and you will answer for your actions.”
McFaddin extended appreciation to appreciation to the staff at Central Elementary School, the Valley Child Advocacy Center, Project Horizon, the United States Marshals Service, and the Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney for Rockbridge County and Lexington City “for their dedication and cooperation throughout this investigation.” He also acknowledged “the courage of the young victim” and expressed appreciation to the victim’s family “for their patience and perseverance throughout this lengthy process.”
