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Pair Pleads Guilty To Robbing Three Banks On Alabama-Florida Line
July 26, 2010
A couple described as a modern-day Bonnie and Clyde have pleaded guilty to three bank robberies.
Rhianna Marie Jones, 30, of California, and Jerry Hover Tinsley, 30, of North Carolina, have admitted in federal court that they robbed banks in Flomaton, East Brewton and Florala during a March crime spree.
They admitted to taking $4,963 from two tellers at United Bank in Flomaton on March 8, another $2,840 in cash from one teller at BankTrust in East Brewton and $1,700 from a Wachovia Bank in Florala, Ala.
If Jones offers “substantial assistance” to law enforcement, federal prosecutors have offered her a reduced sentence. Prosecutors only agreed to seek the minimum sentence under federal guidelines. Sentencing is scheduled for late October.
During the Flomaton robbery, Tinsley and Jones both presented tellers with demand notes which stated “this is a robbery, place all $100s, $50s, $20s on the counter no alarm no die packs no tracers”, according to federal court documents. A demand note with the same wording was presented during the East Brewton robbery. They did not display a weapon during any of the robberies.
Authorities said Tinsley and Jones picked banks along the state line because they believed Alabama authorities could not pursue them into Florida. Authorities believe in each robbery, the pair fled to Florida immediately after the holdups — including March 8 when they fled into North Escambia following the Flomaton robbery.
The pair was arrested by federal agents and local law enforcement after a short chase from a Motel 6 in Destin, Florida, March 18. The arrest was reportedly the result of a tip phoned into the Florala (Ala.) Police Department concerning a MySpace photo.
The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Warrants Unit was assisting the FBI from Mobile in the hunt for Tinsley and Jones. They determined that they were staying in the Motel 6 located at 405 Harbor Boulevard in Destin. In addition to being suspects in the bank robberies, authorities knew Jones was wanted on felony charges out of Pinellas County, Florida, and Tinsley was suspected of being in violation of his probation.
At 11:14 p.m. March 18, the pair was seen leaving the Motel 6 in a gold color 2004 Chevrolet Impala with a Florida tag. Deputies attempted a traffic stop in the parking lot, but Tinsley and Jones fled westbound on Harbor Boulevard, a four lane divided highway, at a high rate of speed, according to the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office arrest report.
“Tinsley, who was identified as the driver, was passing around and between cars to get away,” according to Okaloosa Deputy Todd Watkins. Speeds in the chase, according to Watkins, reach in excess of 90 mph. Tinsley, who is known by the street name “Prison Ink” turned onto two-lane roads, and the chase continued over 90 mph until he turned onto the dead end Sea Hills Drive. The total distance of the chase was about 1.8 miles.
While several units pursued the vehicle down the dead end street, Deputy Watkins went to an adjacent street where he observed the duo flee on foot. He was able to take Tinsley into custody, while Jones fled into a wooded area. She was located a short time later hiding in some brush in a fenced in yard.
Local charges were filed by the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office: Tinsley was charged with fleeing and eluding at high speed, resisting arrest without violence, and possession of a controlled substance, and Jones was charged with resisting arrest without violence.
Tinsley reportedly had two grams cocaine and three Oxycontin pills in his possession at the time of his arrest.
Pictured top: Rhianna Marie Jones and Jerry Hover Tinsley pass holdup notes at the United Bank in Flomaton on March 8. Pictured top inset: Flomaton Police investigate the robbery of the United Bank on Sidney Manning Boulevard. Pictured below: Mug shots of Jones and Tinsley after their arrests in Okaloosa County. NorthEscambia.com and courtesy photos, click to enlarge.
Comments
10 Responses to “Pair Pleads Guilty To Robbing Three Banks On Alabama-Florida Line”
OK I knew this woman when we were girls and she had a HORRIBLE family life. Don’t kid yourself into thinking she was in any way protected or cared for in a real manner. She started out sweet and helpful – how did she end up like this? Poverty, bad family and bad choices. Sorry it’s the truth.
Rhianna Jones was my best friend growing up from middle school until high school. We were very close. Whomever is under the impression that Rhianna was protected and well cared for all her life is misinformed. Perhaps, she did fall into a victim mentality but there were many unfortunate social factors at work here as well. That does not excuse her choices but none of you deserve to pass judgement on her.
Rhianna, the robber in question, is my niece. Yup, my niece. I was present, living with her and her mother, through her high school years and there were no clues as to her behavior turning out such as this. She was loved, provided for, and watched over. Some people deal with life in ways which are destructive. Some don’t. Enough said…..yeah?
AC and all of you have some points.
HOWEVER…
IT is a known fact now that children to some extent are pre-wired,
so many of their traits will be different even in the same families raised
by the same parents and in the same environment.
However, that being said, there are many factors that go into why one
sibling is good and one sibling is bad. Just think about the fact how
boys are raised much differently than girls. Boys are traditionally allowed
to be out later and have less supervision. Just like they
are made to mow the lawn and take out the garbage, while girls are
made to wash clothes, scrub floors, wash dishes, clean the refrig.,
make beds, iron, put away groceries, cook, and a million other chores
that women do and nobody notices, unless they aren’t done.
There is also the factor between boys and girls that boys, especially in
this neck of the woods are taken out and taught at a very young age
to hunt, kill, skin and gut small animals, making the boys
much more hardened and callous than girls. Which may I remind you
is what they have found out about most of our serial killers. albeit I realize
they also went on to torcher said same, but if not for being trained to kill
small animals instead of love on them, I bet unless they had mental
problems they would not have gone on to torcher. Just my opinion.
Then you take into consideration the the fourth child syndrome,
which brings up the factor how many chilren were in the home,
and were their any favorites, (i.e. spoiled).
There are many differences in the home, under the same roof,
and while many go unnoticed, many are felt deeply by each
child.
While it may not quite be the fault of every parent, then again
in (I believe) most cases it is.
If you didn’t get through to your kids about drinking, driving,
drugs, kindness and respect for others and their property,
AND last but not least teach a good work ethic so they don’t
think the world owes them, then for the most part you
didn’t do your job.
You all seem to blame the drugs, or fast cars, or what have you,
for this lost generation.
Sorry time to stop and think about it.
Where were you when the first clue came in that they were headed
down the wrong road. There were clues.
Did you punt and shift, and say this one needs more than I’m giving
him. Like more of you time!
Did you always give them consequences when they did wrong
or did you say their just teen and teens make mistakes.
How many times have we heard someone say, “Why did his
own mother call the cops on him?”.
RULES, CONSEQUENCES AND LOVE AND MAKE THEM EARN
TRUST, AND EVERYTHING ELSE THEY WANT THAT COSTS
MONEY.
One of you said it yourself, most criminals
do come from bad homes.
Maybe your right, thats not all of them, but let me tell you something
That’s way way to many.
While I’m sure the
AC— you are 100 % on target. It’s a shame that some people who know nothing about the family are quick to lay the fault of a child’s action on the parents. Some people are just bad.
Ever read the book “A Boy Called It”? If not, read it and then say that people from rough homes turn living a life of crime. If you are determined to live a decent life,upbringing aside,you’ll live a decent life!
@AC……You are SO right on!!! I couldn’t have said it better!!
AC
I agree with lyou whole heartedly……That discussed don’t know what they are talking about……I am not sure what planet they came from but here on earth but these choose what they do….Whether brought up by good parents or bad parents……IT IS TODAY GENERATION…..No matter how good a parent may raise their children….These kids now days want everything for free and do nothing to earn it……It is not always the parents fault.. for example….My mother raised me and my brother by herself…..She taught us good morals and right from wrong….I turned out good and have never been in trouble…On the other hand my brother being raised the same I was, robbed stores, did drugs, and was totally disrespectful…..NOW YOU TELL ME HOW THAT HAPPENED….HMMMM
■Discussed on July 26th, 2010 8:02 am
“…And don’t any of you say kids do bad things and they come from good
homes.
Thats a lot of hog wash…”
I’ve seen a lot of people who came from good homes, worked hard, and lived
right, yet had siblings who came from the same home, the same background, and the same upbringing turn out to be scum. On the other hand, I’ve seen some who were “raised” (loosely termed) by uncaring guardians that turned out to be very upstanding citizens.
Bad upbringing can indeed be a factor, and usually is, but is not all inclusive. It is ultimately up to each individual to make their own decisions in life and how they wish to live. Not having the proper training and teachings, or the proper role models to follow, certainly puts one at a disadvantage but many overcome this.
By the same token, it is not very difficult at all to find siblings of some of the most heinous criminals in our history, who have lived very quiet, normal, hardworking lives. Background reveals a very normal family life. Parents who were strict diciplinarians and as good of role models as can be expected. Yet they had a child that, despite the proper upbringing, decided to become criminals and parasites to society. Yes, the majority of criminals come from an abusive childhood, poor upbringing, questionable parenting, parents who were alcoholic, drug addicts, criminals, etc. But not all.
It’s called “the victim mentality”. Today’s society is much too quick to play the blame game and blame their bad behavior on anyone but themselves. “I’m a criminal because my mother didn’t hug me enough” or “I’m in prison because my father left home when I was young” or “the world owes me because I grew up poor”. To say that every person who does bad things came from a bad home is simply unrealistic, and, in your words, ‘hog wash”.
That is what happens to children who either didn’t have parents
who cared, or who taught them all the wrong things and sent them
the wrong messages.
Now these children are druggies and thieves and they are goiing right
where they belong.
I hope their parents are proud of themselves.
And don’t any of you say kids do bad things and they come from good
homes.
Thats a lot of hog wash.
You have to train them right, watch them close, and never stop.
They will be your babies till you die, but you can’t baby them forever.
You have to make them responsible citizens, and thats a heck
of a lot of work.
So kids reading this, if your not up to it…….. don’t do it.
Have a career, but don’t have children.
These kids when they were babies deserved someone who cared
and a better life then they obviously have had or will ever have now.