Jones denied new trial, receives maximum sentences on charges of first degree arson and animal abuse stemming from February 2022 Allamakee Street blaze
Denied new trial, receives maximum sentences ... Mindy Jones confers with her attorney, Aaron Hawbaker of Waterloo, after hearing her sentence Monday afternoon, February 3 in Allamakee County District Court in Waukon. After first being denied a new trial in the arson case stemming from the February 2022 fire in the middle of the initial east block of Allamakee Street in Waukon, Jones received the maximum sentences of 25 years for her November 19, 2024 conviction on a charge of first degree arson, as well as two years on a charge of animal abuse in connection with the death of a dog ruled to be as a result of that fire. Those two sentences were ordered to be served concurrently, with Jones eligible for parole review only after serving 17-1/2 years of that sentence.
As the three-year anniversary approaches of the February 13, 2022 fire that destroyed two business buildings in the initial eastside block of Allamakee Street in Waukon and forced upstairs apartment residents to flee for their safety, the woman ruled to be responsible for the blaze has now been ordered to serve a 25-year prison sentence on a charge of first degree arson and two years on a charge of animal abuse associated with the incident.
That 25-year prison term is the maximum allowed by Iowa law for arson in the first degree, which is a Class B felony, and that sentence was handed down to Mindy Jones by Iowa First Judicial District Judge Laura Parrish in Allamakee County District Court Monday afternoon, February 3. Iowa law also states that the mandatory minimum time that must be served for such a conviction is 50-70% of that maximum - meaning a person receiving such a conviction must serve at least 12-1/2 (50%) years on up to 17-1/2 (70%) of those 25 years before being eligible for parole review, with that minimum requirement being determined by the court in each specific case.
Following an hour of discussion and presentations at Monday’s hearing by the State of Iowa prosecution and Jones’ defense counsel, Aaron Hawbaker of Waterloo, Judge Parrish ultimately ruled Jones would be handed the maximum sentence on both charges. In addition to the 25 years required by law in the conviction on the charge of first degree arson, Judge Parrish also ruled Jones would serve the maximum of 70% of that sentence (17-1/2 years) before being eligible for parole review. Additionally, Jones was handed the maximum two-year sentence for the charge of animal abuse, which was ruled an aggravated misdemeanor in this specific case, with those prison terms ordered to run concurrently, or at the same time.
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