An Ohio mother who was charged with killing her 8-year-old son in a house fire and injuring his 10-year-old stepbrother has pleaded guilty to endangering children and attempted endangering children, according to Huron County court records.
In exchange, prosecutors dropped their involuntary manslaughter charge against Dakota Rae Jones, 33. On March 10, she received a five-year community control sentence. The probation department will also decide how she will serve her 90-day jail sentence, with the option of placing her under house arrest.
According to Cleveland CBS affiliate WOIO, the Ohio State Fire Marshals determined that the fire on June 7, 2023, was an accident. She wasn’t home at the time.
She reportedly told police that she had left briefly to go to the bank and returned to find her house in flames. Her two sons were home at the time.
A Huron County grand jury ultimately indicted her.
Jones was noticeably snippy with authorities when they arrested her on December 11, 2023, when one of the officers inquired about taking her phone.
“Um, I’m going to use it to call my mother and stuff, and my lawyer too, so -” she went on:
She repeatedly told authorities to “get it over with” as they took her away.
“No, he already knows what’s going on,” she said, calling out for assistance as officers escorted her. Then, to no one in particular, “Let’s go. Get this over with. “Come on.
Court documents from March 11 show, however, that the court determined she was sincerely remorseful, complied with certain conditions, such as cooperating with pretrial services, and is currently undergoing treatment.
