COLUMBUS, Ind. — A local man who was arrested in the Central Middle School staff parking lot with two concealed, loaded handguns, has pleaded guilty in the case as part of a plea bargain.
Columbus Police Department School Resource Officer Greg Ross saw the man, later identified as Michael K. Jones 38, of 2612 Griffa Ave., Columbus, acting suspiciously around vehicles in the Central Middle School staff parking area on Aug. 19, said Lt. Matt Harris, Columbus Police Department spokesman.
Jones, who was charged in Bartholomew Superior Court 1 with felony possession of a firearm on school property, has pleaded guilty to the charge as part of a plea agreement with the Bartholomew County Prosecutor’s Office. Jones will be sentenced by Superior Court 1 Judge James Worton at 10:30 a.m. Feb. 9.
The parking area where the incident occurred is described as an “open access” area, meaning individuals can access it from nearby sidewalks or alleys surrounding the school.
The middle school, 725 Seventh St., in downtown Columbus, is located in the area of the Bartholomew County Library, CSA Lincoln and St. Peter’s Lutheran School. Central had about 650 students in the building on Wednesday, with CSA Lincoln at about 280 students in the building, school officials said.
