Ex-Firefighter Charged In Home Invasion

A Gwinnett County firefighter, now off the job, stands accused in a home invasion and multiple break-ins throughout Jackson County.

Channel 2 Action News reporter Manuel Bojorquez talked with officials who confirmed that Bobby Dean Jones had been a firefighter since 1995. When officials heard about the criminal charges against Jones, they told Bojorquez that they had no choice but to fire him.

One woman, who said Jones broke into her home on July 25, agreed to speak with Channel 2 on the condition of anonymity.

“I opened my eyes and there was a strange young man standing there,” the victim said.

The victim said Jones told her that he was making sure she was OK because he thought he saw smoke in her backyard. The victim said she wasn’t hurt during the ordeal.

“I knew he wasn't supposed to be in the house,” the victim said.

Hoschton police said Jones, 38, of Braselton, turned himself in when he heard police were looking for him in connection with the home invasion. Police are talking with Jones about up to eight other break-ins in the western part of Jackson County.

“We drove around to various addresses around the west Jackson area where he would show us what house he got into, what he was looking for in the house, if he found anything and if there was any sort of confrontation with any of the occupants in the house,” said Hoschton Police Chief Jeremy Powell.

Police will not say what exactly Jones was looking for, only that they're relieved to have solved several cases.

The victim said she actually feels bad for the former firefighter.

“When I found out more about him and his family, I hated it for them,” the victim said.

Jones is free on bond. Bojorquez tried reaching him at a number listed for Jones, but no one answered.

The case now moves on to a Jackson County grand jury.