Man charged in Perry home invasion pleads not guilty

LIMA — The man charged in the murder of a 74-year-old Perry Township woman pleaded not guilty Tuesday to charges that could place him on Ohio’s death row.

Not a lot about the case against Demond Jones has been released. Sheriff investigators said he broke into Marjorie Williams’ home at 1907 Zeits Ave. on Feb. 27 through a window and shot her in the head.

Investigators have declined to say more; however, prison records tell a story about a troubled man with a history of home burglaries and a man who has spent most of his adult life behind bars.

The 37-year-old Jones first entered prison in June 1992 when he was 19 for burglary after police officers caught him inside the victim’s home hiding under a bed. A silent alarm alerted authorities.

Jones was released almost nine years later but violated his parole by exposing himself to a 12-year-old and returned less than eight months later. He was released less than two years later and within six months was back in for violating his parole, according to prison records.

Less than a year later in May 2004, Jones was released on parole only to return a year later for trespassing on private property while exhibiting “prowler type behavior,” according to records.

Jones also was intoxicated during that arrest and had other violations of parole such as moving without informing his parole officer, missing a hearing, possession of marijuana and failing to report a contact with police, according to records.

He was paroled a final time in March 2006 on his first case, according to records.

Prison records said Jones has an alcohol problem and had been written up at least four times for exposing himself, including multiple times to female staff members.

Jones also was in trouble in prison for throwing hot coffee on a guard and for assaulting another inmate, according to records.

In 2006, nine months after his final release on his last case, Jones had committed another burglary. He was convicted of burglary and receiving stolen property. Jones served about 14 months in prison, according to records.

Jones stayed out of prison for nearly a year and a half before he was sent to prison again in June for an attempted burglary. He was released Feb. 23, just four days before the home invasion during which he is accused of killing Williams, according to prison records.

Jones also has a lengthy record at Lima Municipal Court with at least 12 convictions, including intoxication, resisting arrest, criminal trespass, criminal damaging or endangering, and public indecency.

Now another court case starts and this one the most serious he’s ever faced. Prosecutor Juergen Waldick has said Jones’ actions were so bad it warrants nothing less than the death penalty.

Jones is charged with aggravated murder, aggravated burglary and having a weapon under a court sanction. The charges carry additional allegations that Jones is a repeat violent offender and used a gun in the crimes.

Jones’ first hearing in Allen County Common Pleas Court began Tuesday. Judge Richard Warren took the time to read the entire indictment against Jones because he faces the death penalty.

Warren declared Jones was unable to pay for his own defense and appointed two attorneys, Bob Grzybowski and Steve Chamberlain, both of Lima. Taxpayers will get the bill.

A pretrial has been scheduled for March 25, during which additional dates will be set, including a possible trial date. Such cases typically play out over a year to trial.

The last death penalty trial in Allen County was in January 2006 when a jury recommended Michael Glenn serve the rest of his life in prison for killing his ex-girlfriend and her daughter on St. Johns Avenue in 2005 after his ex-girlfriend refused to give him money for drugs.