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Man Sentenced to 27 Years for Burning Girlfriend Alive
A White Earth man has been sentenced to 27 years in prison for burning his girlfriend alive while she was unconscious. Charles James Jones, 50, was convicted by a jury on March 10, 2015, after a seven-day trial, of burning his girlfriend, Shalonda Clark, alive while she was defenseless. The incident occurred in December 2013 at their home in Ponsford, Minnesota.
According to investigators, Jones and Clark were huddled in the living room trying to stay warm from the heat of the oven when Clark became unconscious and laid immobile on a couch. Jones then took a blanket, lit it on fire, and threw it on top of Clark’s defenseless body. Clark never regained consciousness to escape the blaze, and her charred remains were later recovered from among the ashes of the couch.
Jones fled the burning house to another house across the road, where he lied to his neighbors about not knowing where Clark was. The neighbors went to the defendant’s home to look for Clark, but Jones did not help them and did not tell them where she could be found.
This case was the result of an investigation conducted by the Becker County Sheriff’s Office, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the FBI, and the White Earth Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin S. Ueland and Julie E. Allyn of the Major Crimes Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Jones was sentenced to 27 years in prison and five years of supervised release. He was convicted of Murder in the Second Degree.
The incident highlights the brutal nature of domestic violence and the devastating consequences it can have on victims and their families. The U.S. Attorney’s Office commends the bravery and determination of the investigators and prosecutors who worked tirelessly to bring Jones to justice.
Defendant Information:
- Defendant: Charles James Jones, 50
- City: Ponsford, Minnesota
- Charge: Murder in the Second Degree
- Sentence: 27 years in prison, five years supervised release
- Date: December 2013 (crime date), March 10, 2015 (sentencing)
Contact: United States Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota: (612) 664-5600
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Key Facts
- State: Minnesota
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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