Jones trial begins Oct. 9 in Minnesota, arson trial in Iowa moved to February

The charges in Minnesota against Mindy Jones, formerly of Harmony, Minn., and Waukon for two separate incidents – including 47 total counts of theft, issuing dishonored checks and forgery – is slated to go to a jury trial on Monday, Oct. 9, at 9 a.m. at the Fillmore County Courthouse in Preston, Minn. 

Jones, now residing in Waterloo, also faces Arson-First Degree and Animal Abuse charges in Allamakee County which stemmed from the investigation of the 2022 fire that destroyed her Waukon business and the occupied residence above her store while also causing damage to adjacent properties. Jones most recently saw a change in her court-appointed counsel at her Pretrial Conference Sept. 11, the fourth such appointment since charges were filed. 

According to court documents from Sept. 11, “The Court is advised that defendant has had no contact with counsel for several months and defendant made an oral request for new counsel. The Court finds that said request should be granted. The Court determined that no other private attorneys are on the State Public Defender list for attorneys that are qualified to handle class B felonies. The Court has been in contact with Aaron Hawbaker, the Waterloo Chief Public Defender, who has agreed to handle this case.”

Due to the change in Jones’ legal representation at the state’s expense, her Oct. 4 trial date has been rescheduled to Feb. 21, 2024, at 9 a.m. at the Allamakee County Courthouse in Waukon.

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