Jordan Gareth Jones: Katanning man accused of burglary and indecently assaulting young girl pleads not guilty

A man accused of indecently assaulting a young girl after breaking into her family’s Katanning home last year has entered a plea of not guilty to a host of charges laid over the incident. Jordan Gareth Jones, 27, appeared in Albany Magistrates Court via video link from Hakea prison on Thursday. Mr Jones entered pleas of not guilty to four charges of indecent dealing with a child under 13 years, stealing a motor vehicle, aggravated home burglary and commit and stealing, all of which were related to the alleged incident on November 30, 2022. Mr Jones repeatedly told the court he wanted to represent himself, but was represented by a lawyer when Magistrate Kelly Thompson urged him to take legal advice. During his first court appearance on December 1 regarding the alleged incident, the court was told Mr Jones entered the home through a rear sliding door in the early hours of November 30 and “rummaged” through several rooms. It is alleged Mr Jones stole seven Samsung Galaxy tablets from a bedroom and a Lenovo tablet from the kitchen, before discovering a young girl in the lounge. It is alleged Mr Jones crouched in front of the girl, who was asleep on the couch with her siblings, waking her up. He is then believed to have fled to another room before returning to the lounge — where he allegedly assaulted the girl. Police said Mr Jones then went into the kitchen and took the keys to the family’s car before returning again to the lounge, kissing the girl on the forehead and saying: “I’ll see you in the morning.” Mr Jones then allegedly drove the car from the top to the bottom of the driveway, before abandoning it and running away. The court heard the girl alerted her parents to the assault, causing her father to run to the front of the house where he allegedly saw Mr Jones fleeing. He will next appear in Albany District Court for a trial listing hearing on June 28. Mr Jones also faces a charge of possession of stolen or unlawfully obtained property which is also alleged to have occurred on November 30. That charge will be heard in Albany Magistrates Court on June 29, along with two counts of stealing and one count of burglary and commit relating to an incident on November 23, and one count of burglary with intent on November 29.

Jordan Gareth Jones: Katanning man accused of burglary and indecently assaulting young girl pleads not guilty

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