Local preacher arrested for theft

Conway Terrell Jones, Sr., of Many was arrested on a warrant for theft by Many Police on Aug. 18 after surrendering at Many Police, according to Chief Roger Freeman.

A warrant was issued for the local preacher’s arrest after he was observed taking lottery tickets on video surveillance at Shop-A-Lot No. 1 on San Antonio Ave. in Many during the early morning of Aug. 17.

According to Many Police, Jones entered the store shortly after 2 a.m. and was first spotted on camera as he stood at the deli. At 2:20 a.m., he walked the cash register near the rear of the store, where the lottery dispenser is located. At 2:22 a.m., Jones was recorded reaching over the counter to the lottery ticket dispenser. As he turns, he places something in his left pants pocket. At 2:25 a.m., he is once again viewed leaning over the counter to the dispenser and observed putting something in his left pocket again.

Lottery tickets sales end at 10 p.m. each night. The clerk on duty checked the machine at 1 a.m. and everything was in order. At 4:30 a.m., the clerk noticed that several tickets were hanging out of the machine and contacted her supervisor. The surveillance tape was reviewed and the incident was captured on film.

Many Police was contacted at 7:30 a.m. Aug. 17. After an investigation by Detective JoAnn Carter, the state Lottery Commission was notified and the tickets were marked as stolen.

According to Detective Carter, 28 numbered Black Jack lottery tickets, valued at $1 each, were taken. The value of tickets stolen was $28. However, eight of the stolen tickets were given to a woman as payment for cleaning Jones’ home.

The tickets, already scratched off, were recovered. Five of the tickets won a new ticket; two won $2 each and one won $1, making all of them winning tickets.

At the time of his arrest, Jones confessed to stealing the lottery tickets, but denied giving them to a woman for housekeeping. He said he left the tickets in his vehicle.

Jones also told police that as soon as he bonded out of the Sabine Parish Detention Center, he would return the remaining tickets.

Later that day, Many Police was notified by the Lotto Security Office that the tickets were trying to be cashed at the Country Store.

Jones posted a $542 bond on Aug. 18 and was released.

Known in local religious circles for working with youth, Jones has preached at many churches in the Sabine-Natchitoches area.