BY CATHERINE TSAI
The Cincinnati Enquirer
HEBRON -- She says she had been stalked, beaten and frightened, but she stayed with him for eight years because she loved him.
His family members say she's making it up.
One day after a Cincinnati man smashed his car into another car and then into the Orchard Estates house where his ex-wife was staying, Jason Jones' ex-wife says she's scared.
Boone County Sheriff Mike Helmig said Mr. Jones, 37, was driving a 1992 Ford Escort about 7:30 a.m. Tuesday in the subdivision when he struck a car carrying Angela Doud, 29, and her 14-year-old son. The two were not seriously injured.
Mr. Jones then drove his car through the family room of a house on Jonathan Drive where four people, including his ex-wife, were inside, police said.
Patricia Jones and Mike Twehues, who owns the house, were near the front but not in the family room, police said. Mr. Twehues' 2-year-old son and a 4-month-old, whom Ms. Jones was baby-sitting, were also there.
"I don't want to sound like I'm defending him for what he did," Ms. Jones said, "but to meet him when he was well, he was a really nice person."
Sheriff Helmig said Mr. Jones' sister had called him to say her brother was mentally ill, but she would not comment about that when contacted.
Mr. Jones' family members have questioned Ms. Jones' allegations. Mr. Jones was captured by sheriff's deputies on Conner Road shortly after the incident.
Mr. Jones has been charged with six counts of wanton endangerment in the first degree and one count of criminal mischief, all felonies. He was also charged with violating an emergency protection order that required him to stay 1,000 feet from Ms. Jones, and with leaving the scene of an accident. He reportedly had no insurance.
He was being held in the Boone County Jail under $25,000 cash bond.
Mr. Jones' attorney, Tim Schneider, said he could not comment on the direction of Mr. Jones' case.
"We are doing our own investigation to determine what would be an appropriate defense, and I'm not really in a position to comment," Mr. Schneider said.
Between $15,000 and $25,000 in damage was estimated to have been caused to the house, Sheriff Helmig said.
Mr. Jones' next court appearance is scheduled for 1 p.m. July 20 before Judge Michael Collins, and Assistant Boone County Attorney Michael Mason will handle the prosecution.
Mr. Jones' sister said she did not want her name to be published but said comments by Ms. Jones about her brother were "very sad" and "50 percent fictional."
