A teacher in the Jackson Public School System is accused of abusing children.

Two mothers said that their sons were beaten by Miguel Jones, currently a teacher at Blackburn Middle School.

When 20-year-old Jacob Pickford, who is autistic, arrived home from Forest Hill on Nov. 15, 1999, his mother, Terry, said she found marks all over his body.

"When I saw the injuries, I gasped," she said.

She said she knews Jason's behavior could get erratic, but said the injuries he sustained were not self-inflicted.

The next day, Terry Pickford called a meeting with Forest Hill administrators to ask if anyone knew what happened.

She said Jones admitted having trouble getting Jacob into the classroom.

"(He said) 'I did feel like I used excessive force,'" she said. "And we just said -- my husband just looked at him and said 'thank you for being honest with us.'"

Regina Perry said her 8-year-old also was beaten up by Jones.

On Oct. 18, 2000, Antonio Perry allegedly came home with bruises.

Regina said administrators at Lake Elementary acted as though it was not an isolated incident or an accident.

"Somebody knew that Mr. Jones had been through this before," she said.

Jones and the JPS currently are on trial for failure to supervise and train an employee, failure to conduct an investigation and failure to adress a civil assault charge. Jones is also being charged in criminal court with assault on a minor.

JPS officials said they could not commment on personnel matters or litigation.

The Pickfords and Perrys want to know why Jones still teaching.

Although Jacob Pickford is no longer in school and Antonio Perry no longer attends the same school, both mothers said they don't want other parents to experience what they've been through.