Security questioned after defendant slits throat in Orange County court

SANTA ANA, Calif. (KABC) -- Earlier this week, a defendant in a sexual assault case managed to slit his throat with a razor blade in an Orange County courtroom after his guilty verdict was announced.

Now, officials and members of the public are wondering: how did he slip a metal blade through the courthouse security?

Authorities say Jeffrey Scott Jones, 56, tried to slash his throat with a razor blade on Wednesday after a jury found him guilty of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl.

The former teacher was rushed to a hospital and is recovering from his wounds.

The Orange County Sheriff's Department is looking into how Jones got access to a razor blade inside the courthouse. Investigators are reviewing surveillance video.

Jones was out on bail while waiting for the verdict, so they are also taking a close look at the screening process that the public goes through when entering the courthouse.

They are also considering the possibility that he somehow found the razor blade once he was already inside the courthouse - and if so, how did it get in the building in the first place?

The incident concerns members of the public who also use the courthouse.

"It's kinda scary," said Alexis Martinez of Garden Grove. "I mean you can bring any weapon at any given time. They have metal detectors but I still don't understand how it got through."

Jones is due back in court Nov. 4 for sentencing. He faces a maximum of 68 years to life in state prison.