US nationals fifty three year old Robert Maurice Jones and fifty year old Tammy Lee Jones left their home state of Arizona to seek a better life after they lost their home due to the economic crisis in the United States. Robert and Tammy Lee Jones including their pet cat and dog pulled up in their RV camper outside the Diamond Hotel at mile four and a half on New Year’s Eve.
The couple rented a room and settled down while their animals remain with their possessions in the RV that was left parked in the back of the compound. It seems as if things had started to go well for the couple but tonight instead of enjoying the New Year they are spending time behind bars at the Hattieville Prison accused of illegal firearm and ammunition possession.
The couple’s dilemma started Wednesday night. Court reports are that Robert Maurice and Tammy Lee Jones were socializing bringing in 2009 at the Diamond Hotel when the sound of gunshots rang out. Strangely, no one could be seen firing any weapon and all that was seen was the RV on fire. The couple was quickly alerted but there was nothing that could be done to save any of their possessions.
The blaze totally destroyed the interior of the RV camper and killed the couple’s cat. But it was what the police found inside that now has the victims in jail. Investigations reveal that it was the sound of gunshots that alerted neighbours who then called the police. Because witnesses recall hearing the sounds coming mostly from inside the camper, the cops were more than curious about what else may be in the RV.
After the flames were extinguished the police ventured inside and in an inner part of the RV they discovered thirty slugs along with two firearms, a nine milimeter pistol along with seventy live rounds of nine millimetre ammunitions and an Astra patent thirty two pistol along with four live rounds of thirty ammunitions. Robert Maurice and Tammy Lee Jones were taken into custody and charged with two counts of kept unlicensed firearms and two counts of kept unlicensed ammunitions.
In court, the couple who were represented by attorney Tricia Pitts pleaded not guilty to the charges but because of the nature of the offenses they were denied bail. Meanwhile investigations into how the fire started continue but preliminary reports are that it may have been the couple’s butane refrigerator that was inside the RV. The sound of gunshots is believed was made by the live rounds of ammunition going off inside the burning vehicle.
Robert Maurice and Tammy Lee Jones are scheduled to reappear in Magistrate’s Court on February fourth.
