On October 25, 2016, 23rd Judicial District Judge Thomas Kliebert found Troy Jones of Prairieville, LA., age 50, guilty of 1 count of 2nd Degree Kidnapping and Aggravated Battery. Jones was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Shawn Bush and Phil Maples.
On September 19, 2015, the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office received a call from a female subject advising that her mother and toddler were possibly missing or victims of a kidnapping. The caller advised that her mother failed to drop off her grandson prior to going into work and received information that the victim never made it to work. A BOLO was issued for the victim’s vehicle, and an Amber Alert was issued for the toddler. Several hours later, the victim, her grandson, and Troy Jones were located in Calcasieu Parish after deputies with the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office located the victim’s vehicle. After a vehicle pursuit and a brief foot chase, deputies were able to identify the driver of the vehicle as Troy Jones. Jones was arrested by Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Deputies on arrest warrants issued in relation to a prior domestic dispute in Ascension Parish. Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Detectives traveled to Calcasieu Parish where they made contact with the victim. The victim advised that as she was getting into her vehicle with her grandson, she was approached by Jones who exited an abandoned vehicle parked on the property. Jones stabbed the victim with a “shank-like” object causing minor cuts to her body. The victim advised after being instructed to get into the vehicle, Jones drove the vehicle and proceeded to Lake Charles in Calcasieu Parish. Jones made several stops along the way, but never allowed the victim to leave his sight. Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Deputies were able to apprehend Jones as he was planning to drive back from Lake Charles. It should be noted that the victim was the estranged wife of Jones.
Upon rendering a verdict, Judge Kliebert ordered that sentencing be deferred pending a Pre-Sentence Investigation.
On October 23, 2017, Jones appeared before Judge Kliebert for sentencing on the Kidnapping and Battery charges. On the charge of 2nd Degree Kidnapping, Jones was sentenced to 20 years at hard labor with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served. It was ordered that 5 years of this sentence are to be served without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence. On the charge of Aggravated Battery, Jones was sentenced to 5 years at hard labor with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served.
In addition, Jones entered a guilty plea to the charge of Possession or Introduction of Contraband into a Penal Institution after Jones was caught with a cell phone while incarcerated. Jones was sentenced to 5 years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served on this count.
It was ordered that the imposed sentences are to run consecutive to one another for a total of 30 years.