ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, June 14, 1996 TAG: 9606140056
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MATT CHITTUM
Botetourt Circuit Judge George Honts went outside of state guidelines Thursday in sentencing the man who wrote a threatening letter to Sheriff Reed Kelly from jail, giving him five years to serve instead of the recommended six months.
Honts said the fact that Jason Joseph Jones wrote the letter threatening rape, murder and defilement to the Botetourt sheriff added to the seriousness of the crime, said Commonwealth's Attorney Joel Branscom.
Jones was given five years with one suspended for writing the letter, and another year for the arson and grand larceny that landed Jones in jail in the first place, Branscom said. Once he gets out, Jones will be on probation for another five years. He'll have to serve another eight years if he violates his probation.
Jones sent the letter to Kelly in October, prompting the sheriff to confront Jones in the Botetourt jail. Jones later filed an assault charge against Kelly, but after a state police investigation, a grand jury declined to indict the sheriff.
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