Woman Charged with Arson in Northeast Iowa Sentenced for Bad Checks in Southeast Minnesota.
A Cresco woman, accused of setting her business in northeast Iowa on fire over two years ago, has been sentenced to prison for passing bad checks in southeast Minnesota.
The Fillmore County (MN) Sheriff’s Office received a complaint in December 2021 that 44-year-old Mindy Jones had written four bad checks for merchandise to be sold at her business, Tin Rust, of Harmony. The checks totaled over $32,000.
In June 2022, Jones was charged with eight counts of theft by swindle, three counts of theft, and three counts of issuing a dishonored check.
In October 2023, Jones was found convicted of one count of theft by swindle, two counts of theft, and one count of issuing a dishonored check. Friday (03.29), she was sentenced to two years, three months behind bars, with credit for 45 days already served.
Jones still faces charges of first-degree arson and animal abuse in Allamakee County after she was accused of setting fire to her Waukon business, Tin, Rust and Harmony, in February 2022. A dog also died in the fire which destroyed Jones’ building and heavily damaged an adjacent building.
She was scheduled for a hearing Monday (04.010 in Allamakee County District Court to determine a new trial date. However, both the prosecution and defense agreed to a continuance and the review hearing has been reset to May 6th.
