TENNERTON – Two Rock Cave residents were arrested on child neglect charges after being found unconscious in a vehicle with a child in the backseat, according to police.
Codey Jones, 29, and Ciera Jones, 25, were arrested Saturday, May 25, for one count of child neglect creating risk of injury, a felony, and one count of possession of a controlled substance, a misdemeanor.
Codey Jones was also arrested for driving suspended third offense, a misdemeanor.
According to criminal complaints in the Upshur County Magistrate Clerk’s Office filed by investigating officer Cpl. Rodney Rolenson with the Upshur County Sherriff’s Department, on Saturday, May 18, Rolenson allegedly found Codey Jones and Ciera Jones in an unconscious state in a vehicle parked in the Tractor Supply parking lot in Tennerton.
Codey Jones was in the driver’s seat, and Ciera Jones was in the passenger seat, according to the file.
Tractor Supply employees were unable to awaken either individual, and a small nude child was found in the back seat of the vehicle, the report says.
The E911 Upshur Communication Center dispatched Upshur EMS and Rolenson, who was successful in waking up both indivduals. According to the report, a syringe containing suspected methamphetamine was located on the dashboard in front of the driver, and a small change purse was located in the rear seat area near the child, containing one oxycodone pill.
The passenger and mother, Ciera Jones, allegedly said the purse was hers and she used pills. Rolenson located used needles throughout the passenger compartment of the vehicle, which were allegedly within the child’s reach.
After the May 18 incident, warrants were obtained for Codey Jones’ and Ciera Jones’ arrests, which took place one week later on Saturday, May 25.
According to a separate criminal complaint in the Upshur County Magistrate Clerk’s Office filed by investigating officer Patrolman Donald S. Kraemer with the Buckhannon Police Department, on May 25, Kraemer made a traffic stop on a 2005 GMC Envoy for defective equipment on Route 33 eastbound.
Upon making contact with the driver, Codey Jones, Kraemer discovered he did not possess a valid driver’s license. According to the file, Codey Jones has two prior convictions of driving revoked, dated Feb. 8, 2015, and Oct. 13, 2015.
Codey Jones was arrested for child neglect creating risk of injury; possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine; and driving suspended, third offense. The same day, Ciera Jones was arrested for child neglect creating risk of injury and possession of a controlled substance, oxycodone.
The penalty for child neglect creating risk of injury is confinement in the state penitentiary for not less than one nor more than five years, a fine ranging between $1,000 and $3,000 or both. The penalty for possession of a controlled substance is confinement in jail for 90 days to six months, a fine up to $1,000 or both.
The penalty for driving suspended third offense is confinement in jail for not less than 30 days nor more than 90 days and fined $150 to $500.
Bail was set at $80,000 for Codey Jones and $75,000 for Ciera Jones; both individuals remained in the Tygart Valley Regional Jail as of Tuesday evening.
