On April 1, 2022 a Red River Parish Sheriff’s Office (RRPSO) deputy was dispatched to Springville Cemetery in reference to a subject desecrating a grave.

Upon arrival at the cemetery, the deputy made contact with multiple witnesses who reportedly observed a man damaging a tombstone and other items near the gravesite. The man was identified as Robert Lee Jones.

While investigating the incident, the deputy received a call from Red River Communications in reference to Jones damaging an electrical meter at a nearby worship center.

Soon after acquiring information regarding the second incident, RRPSO deputies located Jones near the cemetery on Springville Road. With assistance from a Coushatta Police Officer, deputies took Jones into custody without incident and transported him to the Red River Parish Jail (RRPJ) for booking.

As the investigation continued into the following day, deputies discovered seventeen additional gravesites that had been desecrated as well as more extensive damage to equipment at the worship center.

On April 1, 2022 Robert, L. Jones, B/M, age 31 of the 1900 block of Jones St., Coushatta, LA was booked into the RRPJ. On April 2, 2022 additional charges were added.

In total Jones was charged with eighteen counts of Desecration of Graves, three counts of Criminal Damage to Property, one count of Criminal Mischief, one count of Theft, and one count of Failure to Appear.

His total bond was set at $30,000 and he remains incarcerated in the RRPJ.

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