Columbia Man Sentenced to 9 Years for Laundry Machine Burglaries

A Columbia man pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree burglary in connection with vandalism to laundry machines at a pair of condo complexes, according to the Howard County State’s Attorney’s Office.

Mark Eugene Jones, 45, of the 8700 block of Airybrink Lane, was sentenced to nine years in prison, according to a statement from the state’s attorney’s office.

The burglaries occurred in late July at laundry rooms in the 10000 block of Twin Rivers Road and the 10000 block of Cross Fox Lane in Columbia, the statement said.

Residents at the condo complexes discovered the coin-operated machines had been vandalized, which resulted in thousands of dollars in losses and damages, according to the statement.

Police found that there had been a “number of large redemptions of quarters” at Coinstar machines in Walmart and Safeway stores around the Columbia area, according to the report.

Using video surveillance, police identified Jones as a suspect and authorities lifted fingerprints from the scene that matched his, the report said.

When Jones consented to a search, police found that he had more than $300 in quarters and other coins in his pockets in addition to pliers, three screwdrivers and $186 in paper money, the state’s attorney reported.

Judge Louise Scrivener sentenced Jones to nine years in prison for the burglary of the condominium on Cross Fox Lane and a six-year suspended sentence, to be served consecutively, for the burglary on Twin Rivers Road, according to the report.

Upon his release, Jones will be placed on probation for two years and will pay $4,500 restitution to Coinmach, the owner/operator of the laundry machines.

As part of the plea agreement, two additional cases against Jones were not prosecuted, the state’s attorney reported.