By M.L. Havock
A man convicted of rape in Bowie County in 1999 got an additional five years added to his 20-year term after a one-day trial April 12.
Patrick Jones, 40, represented himself against seasoned Assistant District Attorney James Elliott. More than a dozen times retired District Judge John Miller warned Jones to stop mouthing off and once he had to be ejected from the courtroom by deputies.
Jones was charged with witness tampering because of a letter he wrote to his victim promising her money and free housing if she would recant. The victim took the letter, which was not the first Jones had sent, to authorities.
In the letter Jones told his victim he would give a place to live "rent free" and "make all your worries go away."
Jones told the woman he would get $80,000 for every year he's been in prison if she would tell officials he is innocent.
Jones repeatedly thumbed his nose at Miller's order that he could not try to re-try the rape case during the witness tampering trial. He claimed she perjured herself and professed his innocence. Since his conviction in 2000, Jones' appeals have been denied by multiple higher courts.
The victim told Jones he needs to quit harassing her and accept responsibility for his bad behavior.
A member of law enforcement showed the jury a photo of Jones taken in 1999 after the rape. His face, cheeks, neck, arms and shoulders were covered with scratches the victim left as she attempted to fight off Jones' attack. During the punishment phase of Jones' trial a witness testified that Jones' DNA matched that collected from a second woman who was raped while Jones was out on bond for the rape he's in prison for now.
It took the jury about 15 minutes to return with a guilty verdict. Jones will have to serve the five years for tampering after he's done his time for the rape.
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