Man Who Set Ex-Girlfriend’s Apartment on Fire Found Guilty of Arson, Burglary, and Contempt

Friday, May 24, 2024

Defendant’s Actions Forced All Residents to Evacuate the Complex

            WASHINGTON –A Superior Court jury, today, found Quenton Jones, 64, of Washington, D.C., guilty of arson, first degree burglary, felony threats, felony destruction of property, and multiple counts of felony contempt, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

            The Honorable Erik Christian scheduled sentencing for September 11, 2024.  Jones faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.

            According to the government’s evidence, on December 28, 2023, Jones threatened to kill his ex-girlfriend, the victim, after he accused her of cheating on him. On February 2, 2024, he incessantly called her multiple times, leaving demeaning voicemails on her phone in violation of a Stay Away No Contact Order. On February 3, 2024, at approximately 3:00 am, Jones went to the victim’s apartment and wrote on her front door, with a black marker, her name, personal phone number, and a list of sex acts. He left, but at approximately 6:00am, he returned and set a piece of paper on fire and shoved it under her front door, causing her front door to catch fire.  All the residents of the apartment building were forced to evacuate the building.  

            Jones was arrested later that morning and has been in custody since. He persisted in contacting the victim from the DC Jail, including making a number of phone calls to her and writing her a handwritten letter right before trial.  

            In announcing the verdict, U.S. Attorney Graves commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department.  

            The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Molly K. Smith and Monisha Rao from the Domestic Violence Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.