Jones’ Criminal Activity Prior to the Murder

October 4, 1999

Assault of a Detention Officer Police Report

While Jones was awaiting trial for Paul Howell’s murder, he assisted his cellmate in assaulting a guard (Tr. XII 69-77). The incident began when the cellmate pushed the guard, then Jones took the guard’s radio and threw it in the toilet before also pushing and grabbing at the guard in an attempt to keep him from leaving the cell (Tr. XII 69-74). Jones and his cellmate were subdued only after two other guards arrived (Tr. XII 72-76).

July 22, 1999

Armed Carjacking (Hideaway Pizza) Police Report

The victim was leaving the same Hideaway Pizza location when Jones pointed a gun at his head and demanded the keys to his Mercedes (Tr. XI 53-60, 134-35). The victim positively identified Jones as the person who stole his car at gunpoint (Tr. XI 62, 64-65). Jones was wearing a blue bandana over his mouth and nose (Tr. XI 60). The victim’s Mercedes was found the day before Paul Howell was murdered in the parking lot of Jones’ apartment complex (Tr. XI 75). The key to the victim’s car was found in the glove compartment of the car that Jones and Jordan shared (Tr. XI 66-67, 72-74, 77-78). Jones pled guilty to this carjacking (robbery with a firearm and possession of a firearm after former conviction of a felony) after his conviction for Paul Howell’s murder.

July 21, 1999

Armed Carjacking and Attempted Kidnapping (Hideaway Pizza) Police Report

The victim was leaving the Hideaway Pizza on North Western Avenue when Jones pointed a gun at his head and ordered him to get into his Lexus (Tr. XI 118-27, 134-35). The victim froze, so Jones grabbed the keys and shoved the doctor into the car (Tr. XI 121-22). The victim and his passengers (who were already in the car when Jones approached) managed to get out of the car before Jones drove away (Tr. XI 121-22). Jones was wearing a blue bandana (Tr. XI 124). The car was found three months later in Midwest City (Tr. XI 128). Jones told Analiese Presley at one point that he had a Lexus, and she would look cute in it (Tr. XII 58).

July 9, 1999

Armed Robbery (Royal Jewelers) Police Report

Jones robbed a jewelry store at Quail Springs Mall with a gun (Tr. XI 104-12, 150-52; Tr. XII 14-18). Jones had pantyhose and a red bandana over his face (Tr. XI 107-08). Jones was also wearing gloves (Tr. XI 115). Jones threatened to kill the store owner if he picked up the telephone (Tr. XI 106). Jones stole gold chains worth approximately $15,000 (Tr. XI 106-07, 111). Jones pawned several of the gold chains and gave Analiese Presley three or four, but then took them back from her (Tr. XII 62-64).

March 18, 1999

A Norman Police officer saw “a man [later determined to be Jones] dressed in dark clothing with a hood” in the parking lot of the Republic Bank in Norman near the ATM machine. When Jones saw the officer, he ducked behind a bush and then ran away, ignoring the officer’s lights and siren. Officers eventually caught Jones, but not before he discarded “a black semi-auto pistol (plastic water gun painted black), a brown cloth glove, and a blue full-face ski mask” in a nearby yard.  Jones’ other glove was also found near a parked car he had hidden behind. The jury was not aware of this incident, as the State did not discover it in time to provide notice to the defense.

March 3, 1999

Possession of a Firearm and Stolen Vehicle Police Report

Norman police officer Jason Wilson pulled Jones over at 1:30 AM in a white Honda (Tr. XII 4-8, 11-12). Officer Wilson had seen the car several times that night so he decided to follow it (Tr. XII 6). When he got behind the car, it accelerated and started making quick turns until it parked in a driveway at the end of a cul-de-sac (Tr. XII 6). Jones exited the car and approached the house, but then turned and saw Officer Wilson driving away so he went back in the direction of the car (Tr. XII 6-7).  Officer Wilson learned that the tag was registered to a different car as he turned the corner out of the cul-de-sac (Tr. XII 7). Jones then walked in Officer Wilson’s direction, only to run when he saw the officer’s car (Tr. XII 7). Officer Wilson apprehended Jones, who admitted to parking the car at a stranger’s house to avoid contact with the officer (Tr. XII 7). Jones, Officer Wilson, and another officer approached the Honda to retrieve Jones’ wallet (Tr. XII 8). Jones ignored a command not to open the car door, reached in, put his left hand under the seat and grabbed a loaded gun, trying to push it under the seat (Tr. XII 8-9). Jones had gloves and pantyhose in his back pocket (Tr. XII 9). The car was stolen (Tr. XII 9).  Jones told Analiese Presley that he and Isaiah Smith had found the keys to the Honda at Quail Springs Mall, then walked through the parking lot until they found the car (Tr. XII 55-56).   

December 2, 1998

Attempting to Elude and Possesion of Stolen Property Police Report

Officer Joe Giroux of the Oklahoma City PD attempted to pull Jones over at 3:30 AM for not having a tag light (Tr. XI 90-92, 101-02). Officer Giroux turned on his lights but Jones accelerated and turned into a residential area, reaching speeds as high as 70 mph on main roads and 50 mph in the neighborhood (Tr. XI 92-93).  Eventually, Jones pulled into a driveway, where he was apprehended (Tr. XI 93-94). Jones admitted he did not know anyone at the residence where he was stopped and that he was trying to evade Officer Giroux (Tr. XI 94). In the vehicle, officers found three “spinners” from wheels and the bolts for them, a screwdriver, pliers, a flashlight, an electric screwdriver with torque bits, a speaker, some pieces of broken glass, and three pair of jersey gloves (Tr. XI 95-99).

March 11, 1998

Robbery (Footlocker) Police Report

Jones stole clothing from a Footlocker store in Quail Springs Mall (Tr. XI 77-85). When confronted by the manager and another employee (who calmly asked Jones to return the item he had placed under his jacket), Jones knocked the employee over in order to get away, but the manager caught Jones and held him until police arrived (Tr. XI 80-84).

Threats

At trial, during a legal conference outside the presence of the jury, Sandi Elliott interrupted defense counsel to inform Judge Jerry Bass that “it appeared to me that Mr. Jones was trying to make some kind of a threat to me. I was standing there at the table and he was mouthing several words to me making signals to me.” (Tr. XII 110). Ms. Elliott could not make out the words but felt it “was clearly a threat or some kind of an attempted intimidation” (Tr. XII 110). Judge Bass admonished Jones, who initially refused to respond when the judge asked if he understood (Tr. XII 111). After counsel spoke with Jones, McKenzie said for the record that Jones denied “opening his mouth and making any gestures towards Ms. Elliott.” (Tr. XII 111). Yet, the court reporter agreed she saw Jones attempting to speak with Ms. Elliott (Tr. XII 111).

Julius Jones’ Court Records

12/17/1998 - Court Record

Criminal Felony

Larceny of Merchandise from a Retailer (LMFR)

Conviction - Guilty Plea