An 18-year-old Jones County man recently received a 20-year sentence for charges including child molestation, obstruction and giving a false name to a law enforcement officer.
Steven Allen Jones was in Superior Court June 25 to enter a negotiated plea to the charges. The sentence included 20 years each for two counts of the lesser-included offense of child molestation and 12 months each for the false name and obstruction charges. The sentences were allowed to run concurrently for a total of 20 years.
Jones was ordered to spend the first 180 days in confinement at a probation detention center, and he was given credit for time served from Jan. 14, 2025, to June 25, 2026.
Jones was indicted April 8, 2025, for two counts of aggravated child molestation in addition to the false name and obstruction charges. Ashly Berghof was a codefendant in the indictment charged with cruelty to children second degree and possession of marijuana less than 1 oz.
A report about the incidents leading to the arrest of Jones and Berghof by Jones County Sheriff’s Office Investigator Capt. Kenny Gleaton stated the investigation was initiated based off information from Jones County Department of Family and Children’s Services.
Gleaton said the DFCS case worker requested his assistance in the case, and he accompanied her to a mobile home park Jan. 14, 2026, for a follow-up visit. The captain said he and the case worker went to the front door, and Lt. Gerry Nelson went to the rear of the mobile home.
Gleaton said when he was admitted into the home, Nelson had made entry through the rear door with a male who had attempted to leave.
The officers were given a false name for Jones, the male who Nelson had kept from leaving. The story given to them by Berghof was she had picked up a 16-year-old male in Mississippi named Tyre Jones and brought him here with his parents’ permission. She said he left several days ago and had no idea of his whereabouts.
Gleaton explained to Berghof that the fact she took a juvenile multiple states away from his guardians without permission and now could not account for the child was a serious issue that had to be addressed.
The officer said two minor-aged girls at the home asked to speak to him in private. They informed him the male who had tried to leave was Tyre Jones, and he is 16.
Gleaton said he went back into the residence and confronted the male. He explained that he was taking him into custody until contact was made with his legal guardians. The young man resisted going with the officers but was placed in a patrol car and transported to the Jones County Law Enforcement Center.
Berghof asked Gleaton to take all Jones’ belongings with him. The captain noted that the belongings came from the same bedroom of one of the girls he had spoken to earlier and included a phone.
The phone was used to find a number for Jones’ father, and a conversation with the father yielded his name and that he is 18. It turned out the father had reported him missing. The law enforcement department that received the missing person report was informed Jones had been found and was in good health and safe.
The minor female that Jones had shared a room in the mobile home was taken for an interview at the Crescent House. During the interview, the minor disclosed multiple instances of sexual abuse that caused her physical pain, committed by Jones.
A physical examination was provided after the interview, and more information was disclosed.
Based on the information from the interview, Jones was charged. A warrant was issued for the mobile home. Bedclothes were removed from the bed shared with Jones, and marijuana was found in the room.
All was collected as evidence.
