Jury finds Asa Joseph Jones guilty of aggravated assault; presiding judge revokes bond, sets next phase for morning

A jury in the 252nd District Court returned a guilty verdict against Asa Joseph Jones, finding Jones guilty of aggravated assault, and the court revoked any bond previously set.

“We, the jury, find the defendant, Asa Joseph Jones, guilty of aggravated assault as charged in the indictment,” the jury announced in court. The presiding judge confirmed the verdict was unanimous and formally accepted it after both defense counsel declined to poll the jury.

The judge told counsel the first phase of the trial was complete and that the case would move into a second phase the next day, setting a 9:00 a.m. start time. The judge also said they would prepare and email the charge for the next phase to counsel that evening so attorneys could review it before court resumed.

During the proceeding the court excused the alternate juror and explained logistics for jurors leaving the courthouse. The presiding judge also announced on the record that any bond previously set for Jones was revoked, meaning Jones would not be able to bond out at that time.

Defense counsel present were identified in court as Mr. Coleman and Mr. Burbank. Counsel requested and were granted a bench conference, after which the court went off the record.

The next procedural step is the second phase of the trial, scheduled to begin the morning following the verdict; the judge will distribute the relevant charge to counsel by email in advance.