Fingerprints returned in March for September 2024 incident
BY KYLE TROUTMAN ktroutman@cassville-democrat.com
Fingerprints taken from a vehicle allegedly stolen from the Monett Special Road District have led to a felony warrant for an Exeter man.
Seth Jones, born 1999, of Exeter, is charged with stealing motor vehicle, second-degree burglary and stealing $750 or more.
According to a probable cause statement filed by Det. Juan Salazar, with the Monett Police Department, authorities responded to the Road District on South Eisenhower on Sept. 17, 2024 for a past burglary.
An employee reported the garage door was open and a work truck, valued at $13,675, was missing, along with its contents, valued at $3,900.
On Oct. 1, 2024, Monett detectives responded to an area on Highway HH in Purdy where the vehicle had been located by the Barry County Sheriff’s Office. The Sheriff’s Office collected latent prints on the scene, which were sent to the Missouri State Highway Patrol for analysis.
On Oct. 3, 2024, Monett Police received a report the vehicle was used in an alleged burglary in McDonald County, and it was later used to transport suspects in a fraud case in Cassville. A suspect in that case was interviewed by law enforcement, saying Jones allegedly stole and was driving the vehicle.
On March 12, nearly six months after the initial burglary, returned fingerprint analytics allegedly showed Jones was a match.
The Monett Special Road District said he was not familiar with Jones, or the other individual whose prints were found, and said there was no reason his prints would be on the vehicle.
Jones was also allegedly seen on video burglarizing the Road District facility on Dec. 13, 2024.
Salazar noted in his statement Jones is on probation for burglary and has two active warrants for driving while revoked. He was convicted for second- degree burglary in February 2022 and second- degree burglary and tampering with a motor vehicle in September 2024.
A Warrant has been issued for Jones, with the bond set at $15,000, cash only.
