Executive Summary
- James Allen Jones, Jr. was indicted by a Sumner County Grand Jury on charges of Arson, Aggravated Burglary, and Vandalism.
- The charges stem from a TBI investigation into a residential fire on September 12 in Westmoreland, TN.
- Jones was served with the warrant while already in custody on unrelated charges, with bond set at $100,000.
A Sumner County man has been indicted on charges of arson and aggravated burglary following a joint investigation into a residential fire that occurred in September, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI).
TBI special agent fire investigators, assisting the Westmoreland Fire Department, initiated an inquiry into a blaze reported on September 12 at a residence in the 4000 block of Bledsoe Street in Westmoreland. Through the course of the investigation, agents gathered information identifying James Allen Jones, Jr., 27, as the individual allegedly responsible for starting the fire.
Last week, the Sumner County Grand Jury returned indictments against Jones. He faces one count each of Aggravated Burglary, Arson, and Vandalism involving damages exceeding $10,000. Authorities state that Jones was served with a capias warrant on December 12 at the Sumner County Jail, where he was already being held on unrelated charges. His bond has been set at $100,000.
Procedural Next Steps
The return of an indictment by a grand jury signifies that sufficient evidence has been presented to proceed with formal criminal charges, moving the case into the judicial phase where the accused will face arraignment and potential trial. In cases involving arson and aggravated burglary, prosecutors must establish intent and the specific value of property damage to secure convictions on the enhanced charges. It is important to note that the charges referenced in this report are merely accusations, and James Allen Jones, Jr. is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
