A Superior Court judge on July 22 awarded a $1.575 million settlement to the young girl and her mother, who sued Englewood and former city Recreation Director Merle Simons over the alleged failure to properly vet Johnathan Jones before he was hired to work with children.

The lawsuit claimed city officials failed to conduct a background check or follow a formal hiring process before bringing Jones on as an after-school aide. Jones was later charged in connection with the alleged assault of the girl, who was 9 years old at the time, in September 2023.

Under the settlement agreement, $406,369.21 will go toward legal costs associated with the case. Another $1,168,630.79 will be placed into a trust for the girl, while her mother will receive $100,000. An additional $25,000 will be allocated for attorney’s fees.

The city has 30 days from July 30 to complete the required payments.

“Cases like this are why I have dedicated my career to fighting for people who have been harmed,” said Eva Zelson, attorney for the plaintiffs. “I hope that the closing of this chapter will help our client’s healing process.”

Attorneys for Englewood and Simons did not immediately return calls for comment. Englewood City Manager Robert Hoffmann also did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The lawsuit, filed by the girl’s mother in April 2025, alleged that Simons hired Jones, who was his relative, and failed to take proper steps before placing him in a position involving children.

The complaint alleged that Simons should have known Jones “was likely to hurt the children under his care due to his mental health and related factors.”

According to the lawsuit, the girl was “brutally sexually assaulted” between October and November 2023, resulting in “serious and permanent emotional, psychological and physical harm.”

Jones was arrested in December 2023 and charged with first-degree aggravated sexual assault, second-degree sexual assault by sexual contact and second-degree endangering the welfare of a child.

The lawsuit also stated that Jones has not been deemed competent to stand trial.

Jones is scheduled to appear before state Superior Court Judge Christopher Kazlau in Hackensack on Aug. 3 at 9 a.m. for a discretionary conference.

The settlement resolves the civil lawsuit against the city and former recreation director, but the criminal case against Jones remains pending.