Weapons cache nets felon prison time
A 28-year old registered sex offender will spend up to four years in prison after violating felony probation provisions by possessing seven weapons.
Christopher M. Jones, who was convicted of felony injury to a child in Kootenai County in 2009, was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm after probation officers and sheriffs deputies conducted a search on his residence at 513188 Highway 95 at 1 p.m. Aug. 11 after Jones indicated to someone that he had hidden guns.
According to probation officer Monica Kalar, Jones was defiant and denied owning any firearms several times, but finally disclosed he had possibly four or five weapons stored in a gun safe under a tarp in an outbuilding.
He also confessed to having the only key to the cabinet.
When officers went with him to the shop, they found five weapons, and when they moved the cabinet away from the wall, they found two more rifles with scopes in a case. They also found several .22 caliber bullets, and Jones admitted to owning a .22 caliber pistol, but that firearm was never found.
Jones had earlier served a six-month rider at the Idaho State Correctional Institute.
He was transferred there from the North Idaho Correctional Institute in Cottonwood over security concerns after he became confrontational with staff members when he charged with violating institutional rules, including allegations that he assisted in an escape attempt.
Despite ISCI staff recommending that the court relinquish retained jurisdiction, Jones was released on probation.
After being charged for possession of firearms, he requested through his attorney that he again be placed on probation, but Boundary County Prosecutor Jack Douglas refused to consider it, saying Jones had already had too many chances.
“He's shown by his actions that he poses a danger to the community, he's been given several chances to prove otherwise, and for the safety of the people of Boundary County, I felt it appropriate that he be given prison time, and the judge agreed,” he said.