The Webster Progress-Times

A Webster County constable is awaiting court action on misdemeanor charges that have been filed against him.

Jeffery "Mark" Jones was arrested last week on charges of simple assault and domestic violence, the county jail docket shows. Jones, 47, took office in January as District 1 constable.

He was first booked into jail the night of July 10 on a charge of simple assault and released Friday afternoon after paying a $338 cash bond plus jail fees. The jail docket shows that he was rearrested three hours later on a charge of domestic violence. He posted a $250 cash bond plus jail fees about 1 1/2 hours later and was released.

Justice Court records show that Deputy Sheriff Bill Denley filed the simple assault charge against Jones; and that his wife, Susan Alford Jones, filed the domestic violence charge against him.

Denley's affidavit alleges that Jones, on July 10, attempted to put Billy and Brenda Alford in fear of eminent serious bodily injury by drawing back the butt of a shotgun as if he was going to strike them.

Susan Jones' affidavit alleges that Jones, also on July 10, committed an act of domestic violence by strangling her, pulling her hair, sitting on her to restrain her and threatening to kill her.

Jones is attending training for newly elected constables in Vicksburg and could not be reached for comment earlier this week. He is scheduled to appear in Justice Court at 1 p.m. Aug. 1.

Judge Rebecca Ellison signed an order Friday, upon a motion of county Prosecutor Jan Butler, that the sheriff safe-keep all firearms belonging to Jones at all times. However, because he is an elected constable and was scheduled to attend the aforementioned training he will be allowed to check out firearms needed to participate.

Ellison authorized the sheriff to allow Jones to check out, for training purposes only, only arms necessary for his training and only when he is actually leaving for training. Upon his return to the county, the sheriff is to take charge of his weapons that were checked out. He is keep them until Jones needs further training or the cases are disposed of and an order is entered at that time.