***UPDATED at 6:06 P.M. on JANUARY 30th***
With shackles around his arms and legs, 26-year-old Joshua Tremaine Jones walked into an Aiken County courtroom for the first time. He looked disturbed...constantly grunting and moving his head back and forth. He even cursed at the judge when she asked if he had enough money for an attorney.
“Does it look like it? God Damn it!” said Jones.
This is not Jones first time in a courtroom. He has a South Carolina rap sheet dating back to 2009 with several drug charges, weapons charges, and a felony charge. The scowl he had in his latest mug shot...he had the entire time in court.
“Have you seen him like that before?” we asked Jones' father, James Jones. “No, not at all," he said.
Jones’ father says he feels worse after seeing his son for the first time since MAster Corporal Sandra Rogers was murdered. “The public is going to look at him for being some kind of monster," he said.
But, James Jones says his son is no monster, but is sick.
We found an incident report from just a few months back that says that Joshua Jones shot himself in the head and tried to kill himself. His father says nearly a month at Aurora Behavioral Health. He blames the facility for releasing his son too soon.
Captain Troy Elwell, of the Aiken County Sheriff's Office, has a different opinion. “I hold his son responsible, no one else," he said.
Jones’ father is also blaming something else for his son’s actions. “This has to be some kind of satanic force, that’s beyond my comprehension," he said.
Also to note...inside the courtroom, Jones was cursing at our cameras...not happy at all that we were there.
Jones' next court date is March 9th, which is the same day Stephon Carter, the suspect accused of killing Aiken Department of Public Safety Master Officer Scotty Richardson., will have his next appearance.
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***POSTED at 12:32 P.M. on JANUARY 30th***
At the Aiken Department of Public Safety headquarters, in downtown Aiken, people are still bringing in memorials to honor fallen officer Sandy Rogers.
Also Monday, we are getting a better understanding of the man who is accused of shooting and killing Rogers. This may be one of the most interesting bond hearings we have ever seen.
I'll tell you that this is the most interesting bond hearing I've ever seen.
Joshua Tremaine Jones walked in cuffed at the hands and feet in an orange and white jumpsuit. To put it simply, he seemed disturbed. He appeared to be growling the whole time, and showing his teeth. He was constantly moving his head back and forth and there was an instance where he cursed at the judge.
Jones appeared to be very angry that our cameras were there. He was actually mouthing curse words at us. He did say that he understood the charges against him, though.
Judge Donna Williamson ordered that Jones remain jailed on the murder charge. Bond was set at $10,000 on a weapons charge, and scheduled Jones' next hearing for March 9.
Police say Jones had killed his girlfriend, 21-year-old Cayce Vice, in her Augusta apartment, and then fatally shot Rogers.
Monday night, during our 6:00 p.m. newscast, we will air an interview with Jones' father, who says he believes his son is possessed by Satan.
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