[6/16/04]The courtroom was silent Tuesday as Warren County Circuit Judge Frank Vollor told the Vicksburg man convicted of kidnapping and running down his ex-girlfriend he’d spend the next 53 years in prison.

Anthony T. Jones, 26, 905 Buck St., was given the maximum sentence as a nonviolent habitual offender after being convicted last week on charges of aggravated assault, kidnapping and possession of a weapon by a convicted felon.

He was previously convicted of possession of cocaine in 1998 and 2002. The enhanced penalties are based on the previous convictions.

The victim, Taquelia Thomas, 25, who was hospitalized for nearly two months with broken bones and internal injuries, said she’ll rest easier at night knowing Jones will be behind bars for years.

“All I can say is that he brought this on himself,” said Thomas, who sat alone in the courtroom while the sentence was given.

During his three-day trial, Jones testified in his own defense, saying Thomas was injured accidentally.

Thomas, who also testified, was injured Sept. 7, 2003, when she was attempting to leave her mother’s house on Washington Street near Bowmar Avenue. Jones, according to testimony, approached her, held a gun to Thomas’ head and forced her into her vehicle. As Jones attempted to reverse from the driveway, Thomas jumped out. Jones ran her down, forcing her into a fence and tree and ran over her.

A Warren County jury convicted Jones on all three counts a week ago, but opted not to impose life in prison an option due to the kidnapping charge.

Instead, Jones will serve 20 years for aggravated assault; 30 years for kidnapping; and three years for the weapon charge without eligibility for parole or probation, and his sentence cannot be reduced or suspended under Vollor’s order.

“He won’t be able to hurt anybody but his cellmates for a long time,” said 9th Circuit District Attorney Gil Martin, whose office prosecuted the case.