A Jones County defendant will be serving the next five years on probation for what started as bad behavior at a party.
Dantonio Jamar Anthony Sr. was in Jones County Superior Court Oct. 24 to enter a guilty plea for the offense of criminal attempt to commit a felony. He received a sentence of five years for the charge, which is to be served on probation.
Anthony was represented by defense attorney Ashley Cooper, and the case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Cara Fiore. The plea was accepted by Chief Superior Court Judge Brenda Trammell.
Anthony was indicted Dec. 11, 2023, on charges of criminal attempt to commit a felony, obstruction of an officer and reckless conduct.
The charges stemmed from events that occurred November 26, 2023, at a residence on Highway 49.
In a report of the arrests by Jones County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Jarrod Elrod, he stated he was dispatched to the residence in reference to unwanted advances being made toward females attending a party.
Elrod said he spoke to three complainants when he arrived and was told that their neighbor was asked to leave the party because of the sexual advancements. They stated that, when the offender went home, he started firing a gun off his porch.
The offender then reportedly returned to the residence with a rifle and attempted to force his way inside. The complainants said they were able to slam the door. The deputy was given a description of the offender and pointed to where he lived. Elrod was told he had fired 7-10 shots. The deputy said he retrieved his rifle from his patrol car and advised Deputy Steven Astyk to bring his rifle as well upon his arrival. Elrod said he advanced to a position where he could see the offender’s residence and saw him walk out on the porch, unarmed. The deputy ordered him to the ground, and he complied.
Elrod said he questioned the offender, identified as Anthony, and asked him what had happened at his neighbors’ residence. He denied having or shooting a firearm.
Anthony said no one other than his children were inside his residence.
The deputy said Astyk looked around the yard and found a spent shell casing on the back porch. He said one of his children came outside for a few minutes then returned inside.
Elrod said Anthony became defiant and attempted to move toward the residence and was detained in handcuffs. He said Astyk continued to look around and noticed the shell casing was gone. The child was asked to come back outside and admitted to moving the shell casing. While standing near the front porch, the deputy said four more shotgun shells were found lying in the vicinity of the porch.
Elrod said the shells were collected, and officers asked permission to search inside the residence. The offender refused.
The deputy said he called JCSO Investigator Crystal Murphy, who was able to secure a search warrant.
Murphy arrived at the scene with the warrant, and multiple shotgun shells were found in the trash can in the kitchen. Those shells matched the ones found outside.
Elrod said Murphy photographed the scene but to that point they were unable to locate the shotgun.
It was later found by Astyk laying on top of the roof near the back porch as he was double checking the exterior of the home.
Anthony was subsequently charged with criminal attempt to commit home invasion, reckless conduct and obstruction of law enforcement.
Elrod said all evidence was logged and placed into evidence.
