Greene County man arrested in string of burglaries
A Wind Ridge man is accused of stealing an ATM, prying open jukeboxes and breaking into a nonprofit, no-kill animal shelter.
In court paperwork filed Wednesday, state police alleged Briar D. Jones, 30, was responsible for stealing at least $9,180 in October 2022.
Around 2:30 a.m. on Oct. 4, 2022, Jones allegedly broke into the Dark Horse Saloon in New Salem through a back door. There, police said, he took an ATM containing $2,400 and pried open a jukebox and safe and took $1,700 between them. Jones also pried open three games-of-chance machines and took an unknown amount of money, the complaint alleged.
On Oct. 28, 2022, he allegedly broke into the pro shop at Dunk Hollow Golf Course in South Union Township around 1:15 a.m. and took $280 from the case register.
About an hour later, he broke into Fayette Friends of Animals in Uniontown and stole $1,500 from a safe, police said.
Two hours after that, Jones allegedly broke into the Cloverleaf Lounge and Bar in Perry Township, where he pried open a jukebox, two slot machines and a cigarette vending machine. Police said he stole a total of $3,300.
According to the complaints filed against Jones, shortly after the Oct. 28 break-ins police linked a truck used in the burglaries to him. They also used Jones’ cellphone data to show he was in the area of the burglaries, court paperwork stated.
Police said a razor knife and screwdriver were used during the Dark Horse Saloon burglary. Those items were sent to the state police crime lab. In 2023, results were returned and entered into the Combined DNA Index System, where there was a match to Jones.
One year later, a West Virginia State Police trooper served a warrant on Jones, who is in prison, to get his DNA.
When state police in Fayette County interviewed him in October 2024, Jones reportedly admitted to the burglaries and provided a recorded confession.
He faces four counts each of theft, burglary, criminal trespass and criminal mischief.
Jones, who is still in prison in West Virginia, was arraigned before Fayette County District Judge Jennifer Jeffries Wednesday. HIs preliminary hearing is set for next month.