WALKER — Cass County Attorney Christopher Strandlie reported Tuesday that 31-year-old Robert Joseph Jones was found guilty by a Cass County Jury for the felony offense of terroristic threats against a Cass County Sheriff’s deputy.
Jones had an extensive criminal history that includes: two convictions for felony third-degree assault, three convictions for felony fourth-degree assault against a peace officer and a prior conviction for terrorist threats. According to Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines, the presumptive sentence for his terroristic threats conviction is 29 to 39 months in prison.
According to the criminal complaint filed in the case, on Dec. 22, 2011, a Cass County deputy responded to a call of a fight in front of a Cass Lake residence. Upon arrival, the deputy made contact with the parties and identified one as Robert Joseph Jones. After it was learned that Jones had a warrant for his arrest, he was arrested and transported to the Cass County Detention Center. During the transport, Jones made several threats to the deputy, stating that he was affiliated with the Native Mob, that he would find out where the deputy lived and made further inappropriate remark regarding assaulting the deputy. Jones further stated that he remembered the deputy being a former sentence to service crew leader from the Cass County Jail. Jones told him that he thought it was funny that the deputy thought he would never get hurt while supervising jail inmates.
After the jury reached its guilty verdict, assistant Cass County attorney Benjamin Lindstrom requested that Jones be remanded into custody pending sentencing, citing concern for public safety in light of Jones’ extensive criminal history and the fact that the sentencing guidelines call for a presumptive prison commitment. Judge David Harrington denied this request anwd released Jones. Sentencing is scheduled for 1 p.m. on May 21, 2012.
