Martin Man Found Guilty of Assaulting Sheriff’s Deputies

A Martin man is awaiting sentencing in Franklin County after being found guilty on multiple felony counts of aggravated assault on a peace officer.  

A Franklin County jury took just 30 minutes Thursday to deliver their verdict against Donald Jaynes. 

On June 11, 2013, Jaynes called Franklin County 911 complaining about four-wheelers driving down the road in front of his house.   At the time, Jaynes threatened to shoot out the tires of the four-wheelers and he demanded officers come out and stop them.  He also told dispatchers  he would  shoot the deputies if they came on to his property or attempted to take away his guns.

That call led to a stand off when deputies arrived at his home on Pleasant Hill Road.    Jaynes came out of his house and told officers he was going to kill all of them.  He then went back into his house and came back out with a 30/30 lever action rifle, which he pointed at the deputies.

Franklin County Sheriff Stevie Thomas tried to calm Jaynes, but he again threatened the deputies and tried to go back into his house.

“He stated to me he was going to shoot the deputies,” Thomas said. “He said he would speak with me and no one else. I got him to come out into the carport and I blocked his entrance to the door and took him down. In the meantime, I also arrested his father and his sister.”

Jaynes’ father, identified as Frank Jaynes, age unknown, and his sister, identified as Connie Jaynes were each charged with obstruction.  Later, deputies discovered a cache of weapons inside Jaynes’ home.

Northern Judicial District Attorney Parks White said sentencing for Jaynes will take place at a later date.

“The judge ordered a pre-sentence investigation. He also took the mental evaluation that had already been conducted into evidence and will consider it in determining sentence,” White said. 

In addition to the Aggravated Assault charges, Jaynes was also found guilty of four counts of felony obstruction.