A northeast Iowa woman has been found guilty of arson and animal abuse.
44-year-old Mindy Jones was accused of setting fire to her Waukon business, Tin, Rust and Harmony, on February 13, 2022. The blaze destroyed Jones’ building, heavily damaged an adjacent building, and a dog died in the fire. An investigation by the State Fire Marshal determined Jones was present at the time the fire started and she intentionally started the fire to collect on insurance money.
Tuesday (11.19), an Allamakee County jury convicted Jones of first-degree arson, a Class B felony, and animal abuse, an aggravated misdemeanor.
Her sentencing has been set for February 3, 2025, almost three years after the crimes were committed.
In the meantime, Jones will be returned to the Minnesota Correctional Facility in Shakopee, Minnesota, to continue serving prison time for crimes in that state. In October 2023, she was convicted in Fillmore County, Minnesota, on one count of theft by swindle, two counts of theft, and one count of issuing a dishonored check. In August of this year, Jones was also convicted in Fillmore County on one count of felony check forgery with three counts of theft, four counts of check forgery, and two counts of possession of stolen checks dismissed.
Jones was sentenced in Minnesota to two years and three months in prison on both convictions to be served concurrently.
Thursday (11.21), a bench warrant was ordered for the arrest of Jones upon her release from prison in Minnesota and for her to be returned to the custody of the Allamakee County Sheriff.
