COLUMBUS, Ind. — An East Everroad Park resident who admitted to carrying two loaded and concealed handguns into the Central Middle School parking lot testified in court Tuesday that he had no intention to harm anyone.
“I didn’t know anyone there (at the school) and I did not intend to meet any there,” said Michael Kristopher Jones, 39, of 2612 Griffa Ave.
When he appeared Tuesday before Bartholomew Superior Court 1 Judge James Worton for sentencing, Jones said he had permits for his two loaded 9mm Ruger handguns, and was just using the parking lot of Central, located at 725 Seventh St., as a shortcut to walk with his dog to Washington Street.
Nevertheless, Jones was sentenced to one and a half years on probation after pleading guilty last month in a plea agreement to possession of a firearm on school property as a Level 6 felony. Part of the plea bargain was that Jones serve his sentence with Bartholomew County Community Corrections, rather than behind bars.
Chief Deputy Prosecutor Greg Long said it appeared Jones had no intentions of hurting students or staff when he was arrested Aug. 19. But Long and Worton expressed strong concern regarding the defendant’s mental health, as well as a mutual contention that Jones must continue to be monitored. The defendant has been on electronic monitoring since posting a $7,500 bond on Oct. 22.
When Columbus Police Department School Resource Officer Greg Ross saw Jones engaging in suspicious behavior with his dog last summer at the middle school, Jones told the officer he was “using the K9 to detect drugs in the vehicles,” according to a probable cause affidavit. At that time, Ross became concerned that Jones might be on narcotics or off necessary prescribed medications, court documents state.
For more on this story, see Wednesday’s Republic.
