Battle Creek Felon Javon Jones Gets 10 Years for Gun & Chase

GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN – Javon Jones, 38, of Battle Creek, is facing a decade behind bars after receiving the maximum possible sentence of 120 months in prison for possessing a firearm as a felon. The sentence, handed down by U.S. District Court Judge Robert Holmes Bell, will be followed by a three-year term of supervised release, according to U.S. Attorney Patrick Miles.

The trouble began in the early morning hours of November 16, 2015, when Jones was caught with a loaded, semiautomatic pistol. But simple possession quickly escalated. Jones allegedly fired eight rounds from the weapon near the intersection of High St. and Willow St., a location worryingly close to a schoolyard. He didn’t stop there. Jones then peeled away from the scene, leading Battle Creek police on a frantic vehicle chase through residential streets.

The pursuit ended violently. Jones crashed his vehicle into a utility pole, the impact causing the pole to fall onto his car. Undeterred, Jones allegedly reversed his car *toward* pursuing police vehicles and officers, before attempting to flee again once freed from the pole. The car finally gave out, and Jones was taken into custody. The pistol, recovered from the passenger side floor, was later traced by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and determined to have been stolen approximately six months prior.

“This intense and dangerous car chase and crash followed Mr. Jones’s firing of eight shots in a residential neighborhood, across the street from a schoolyard,” stated U.S. Attorney Miles. “Thankfully, nobody was hurt that night. The 120-month sentence will undoubtedly serve to protect the public from such reckless and dangerous conduct by Mr. Jones.” The judge cited Jones’s extensive criminal history – five prior felony convictions – and the grave danger he posed to both the public and law enforcement as justification for the maximum sentence.

Judge Bell didn’t mince words, emphasizing the seriousness of the offense and the damage caused by Jones’s actions. The successful prosecution underscores the collaborative effort between multiple agencies. “The successful prosecution of Javon Jones highlights ATF’s partnership with the Battle Creek Police department, the Michigan State Police and the United States Attorney’s Office Western District,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge S. Robin Shoemaker. Jones’s case serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of illegally possessing firearms, particularly for those with a history of violent crime.

Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the fallout within the Battle Creek community. The incident raises questions about gun violence and recidivism in the region, issues that demand continued scrutiny and effective solutions.