CRIME

Man shot, paralyzed by police pleads guilty

Jessica Masulli Reyes
The News Journal
Marvin Jones

A Georgia man who was shot by Wilmington police pleaded guilty Monday to resisting arrest and weapons offenses in connection with the 2015 traffic stop and shooting that left him a quadriplegic.

Marvin Jones, 26, appeared in court on a livestream video from the Delaware Hospital for the Chronically Ill in Smyrna to accept a plea deal and be sentenced. Jones was sentenced to time-served, which meant he was credited for the time he already spent in state custody and will not have to serve any more.

Jones, sitting in a wheelchair beside his attorney, said while he didn't agree with some of the firearm-related charges against him, he wanted to plead guilty.

"I'm pleading just because I want to go home," he told Superior Court Judge John A. Parkins Jr.

Jones was shot by Wilmington police officers during a traffic stop in the 100 block of Vandever Ave. on Jan. 15, 2015.

The shooting was initially shrouded in confusion after a city police spokesman said at the scene that Jones had shot at officers at least twice before they "returned fire" and paralyzed him. The city said the next day that Jones did not actually pull the trigger during the struggle.

Police said Jones, a convicted felon on parole at the time, tried to flee from the maroon 2000 Mercury Grand Marquis and then pointed a handgun at one of the officers during a scuffle on the sidewalk.  Four shots were fired at Jones and struck him in the torso. Police also found a loaded 9mm semi-automatic handgun at the scene and an empty holster in Jones' waistband, according to court documents.

Surveillance video taken from Wilmington Job Corps Center more than 50 yards away showed the officers struggling with Jones for about 14 seconds before backing away suddenly and discharging their weapons.

The office of Attorney General Matt Denn investigated the police shooting and chose not to file criminal charges against the officers. His office found that the officers were justified because they feared for their lives.

On Monday, Jones pleaded guilty to resisting arrest, possession of ammunition by a person prohibited and carrying a concealed deadly weapon. He was immediately sentenced.

His attorney, Anthony Figliola, said via the video feed that the plea and sentencing mean Jones can be transported home to Georgia. As part of his plea, he will not be allowed to come back to Delaware.

Contact Jessica Masulli Reyes at 302-324-2777, jmreyes@delawareonline.com or Twitter @jessicamasulli.

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