Brian Jones, 47, of 155 Hoyt Browser Road, Old Ford, Tn., was convicted late Thursday by a Murray County Jury on three counts of child molestation and one count of sexual battery against a minor.
The case involved abuse against two children and the offenses were indicted separately in two different indictments by the Murray County Grand Jury in March.
In addition to law enforcement, numerous family members testified at trial as did Melissa Wells, forensic interviewer for The GreenHouse who interviewed both children. The investigation began in the spring of 2017 following both children’s disclosures of abuse to their families. Jones had access to the children through a relationship with another family member, but he was not himself a relative of the victims.
The trial began on Tuesday after jury selection on Monday.
The jury returned its verdict after business hours
on Thursday. Jones did not testify in his own defense or put up any evidence. He is scheduled for sentencing on Oct. 31 before Superior Court Judge Scott Minter. He faces up to 65 years in prison on the four charges.
Jones was represented by Dalton attorney Jerry Moncus. The state’s case was presented by Assistant District Attorney Ben Kenemer who handles all child-victim prosecution in Murray County.
The allegations against Jones were investigated by Detectives Eric White and Brett Morrison of the Murray County Sheriff’s Office and by Detective Andy Dill of the Chatsworth Police Department with assistance from The GreenHouse, child advocacy center which serves both Murray and Whitfield Counties.