Former Sheriff Jeff Jones faced multiple allegations, including failure to maintain proper evidence room logs since January 2021, returning loaded firearms to a defendant’s family inside the courthouse, and mishandling a potential homicide investigation in December 2022. Additionally, he was accused of hiring Deputy Paul Blankenship despite being aware of prior misconduct involving solicitation of nude photographs from a minor. Jones was charged in September 2023 with failure to report as a mandated reporter, deceiving the Civil Service Commission, and obstructing an officer. He resigned in March 2024, agreeing not to seek public office again, leading to the dismissal of the charges against him.
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