Fifteenth Circuit Court District Attorney Hal Kittrell has announced that Carlos C. Jones was convicted following a jury trial on the charge of second-degree murder.

The three day trial, presided over by Circuit Court Judge Prentiss Harrell, concluded on October 12, when a Jefferson Davis County jury found Jones guilty of second degree murder in the shooting death of his wife, Tabatha Smith Jones, which occurred on December 5, 2014, at their home in Oakvale in Jefferson Davis County.

Following the jury verdict, the court scheduled a sentencing hearing for October 18, in Purvis, Mississippi at the Lamar County Courthouse.

Due to his conviction, Jones faced a maximum penalty of 20-40 years in prison.

At the conclusion of the sentencing hearing, the court imposed a sentence of 40 years in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections with 35 years to serve and five years on post-release supervision.

In addition, the Court imposed a fine of $5,000, a separate assessment to the Mississippi Victim’s Compensation Fund and an award of restitution to the victim’s mother.

This case was investigated by the Jefferson Davis County Sheriff’s Department and was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Morris Sweatt and Assistant District Attorney Lindsay Watts.

“With the month of October being deemed National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the timing of this conviction is very meaningful. Carlos Jones was convicted of murdering his wife in their home with his young stepchildren present. It is my hope that, while we grieve with the family for the loss of their loved one, their loss will not be in vain and will help to bring awareness to our communities about the grave consequences of domestic violence,” said District Attorney Hal Kittrell.