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Man gets prison time for robbery, domestic assault

KAYE THORNBRUGH | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 4 years, 1 month AGO
by KAYE THORNBRUGH
Kaye Thornbrugh is a second-generation Kootenai County resident who has been with the Coeur d’Alene Press for six years. She primarily covers Kootenai County’s government, as well as law enforcement, the legal system and North Idaho College. | November 2, 2021 1:06 AM

COEUR d’ALENE — A judge sentenced a man to prison for breaking into his former girlfriend’s home.

Jesse D. Jones, 26, of Coeur d’Alene, pleaded guilty in July to robbery and battery with intent to commit a serious felony.

He also pleaded guilty to domestic assault and obstructing officers, both misdemeanors.

First District Judge Lansing Haynes sentenced Jones on Monday to seven years in prison on the felony charges, with four years fixed and three years indeterminate.

Haynes also handed down a sentence of 180 days in jail for the misdemeanor offenses.

Jones received 262 days' credit for time served.

That means he will be eligible for parole in about three and a half years.

The charges stem from February, when Coeur d’Alene police responded to a report that Jones had kicked in the front door of the residence where his former girlfriend lived with their child.

Police said Jones had previously made “vague threats” to his ex, as well as his ex’s roommate.

When police arrived at the apartment complex where the incident occurred, they found the front door broken off its hinges.

The deadbolt was damaged and the front door was dented, police said.

The two women said they were in the living room when Jones began pounding on the door, demanding to be let inside.

The roommate said she called 911 and loaded her handgun while Jones’ ex locked herself in another room with her baby.

Jones then reportedly kicked in the door, entered the apartment and refused to leave. He pushed the roommate down the hall, she said, forcing her to back up.

When she had no more room to retreat, she said she put the gun against Jones’ stomach and pulled the trigger.

She told police she feared Jones would kill his ex and the baby if he reached them.

The gun clicked, she said, but didn’t fire.

Jones reportedly took the gun, which was later found outside the apartment.

He also took cellphones belonging to his ex and her roommate before leaving the apartment, according to court documents.

Jones’ ex told police she believed Jones was going to harm her baby, as well as kill her and her roommate.

Police located Jones elsewhere in the apartment complex and arrested him.

During contact with police, Jones allegedly said, “When I get out, I’m beating the f— out of her.”

As part of a pretrial settlement offer, the state agreed to dismiss a burglary charge and deadly weapon enhancement in exchange for a guilty plea. Prosecutors also agreed to file no new charges against Jones.

In court Monday, Jones said he was under the influence at the time of the incident.

He said he went to the front door, heard a gun cock and broke into the apartment in order to take the gun away.

“I ask forgiveness from everyone,” he said.

Prosecutors said video footage showed Jones going to the apartment with a gun in his hand.

Judge Haynes said he didn’t buy Jones’ version of events.

“I don’t accept that you were just concerned about your son and just wanted to get your phone back,” he said. “I’m going to send you to prison.”

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