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Judge orders 'sovereign citizen' accused of firing at constables held without bond

Posted at 6:48 PM, Sep 12, 2017
and last updated 2017-09-12 18:50:58-04

INDIANAPOLIS -- A Marion County judge denied a request for bond Monday by a “sovereign citizen” accused of shooting at constables attempting to serve him with an eviction notice last month.

John Jones-Bey, 52, was originally arrested Aug. 7 when he allegedly fired at Center Township constables at his residence in the 3400 block of Kinnear Avenue.

At least one bullet struck a constable’s city-issued vehicle, but no injuries were reported.

Jones-Bey eventually exited his home of his own volition and was taken into custody without further incident.

PREVIOUS | ‘Sovereign citizen’ accused of attempted murder of officers trying to serve eviction notice

He was released from Marion County Jail on Aug. 15 on his own recognizance – but he did not stay out for long.

According to a probable cause affidavit filed in a second case against Jones-Bey on Aug. 21, after his release, Jones-Bey returned to the home from which he had been evicted and continued to stay there.

When an employee of the home’s owner went to check on the property, Jones-Bey allegedly threatened to shoot him.

Another "sovereign citizen," Greenwood resident Christopher C. Byrne, was sentenced Monday to 37 months in federal prison for a 2016 case in which police found him driving around Greenwood Park Mall with a rifle, suppressor and materials for a chemical bomb. Full story here.

Jones-Bey was arrested again, this time on charges of intimidation and criminal trespassing – in addition to the original charges of battery by means of a deadly weapon and criminal recklessness he already faced.

Following his second arrest, Marion County Judge Marc Rothenberg ordered Jones-Bey to be held without bond. Jones-Bey’s attorney filed a motion asking the judge to reconsider that decision.

On Monday, Rothenberg upheld his order after Jones-Bey reportedly refused to say he wouldn’t return to the Kinnear Avenue property.

Jones-Bey’s next court appearance will be a pretrial conference on Oct. 25. A jury trial was scheduled for Nov. 6.

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