By Zech Sindt
On February 3, 2025, the Iowa District Court for Allamakee County sentenced Mindy Jo Jones to a lengthy prison term following her conviction in November 2024 for first-degree arson and animal mistreatment.
The case, which drew widespread attention, stemmed from a fire in Waukon, Iowa, on February 13, 2022. The blaze originated in Jones’ store, Tin, Rust & Harmony, and quickly spread to neighboring businesses, causing extensive damage to the downtown area. Tragically, a dog living in an apartment above the store perished in the fire. The fire also overwhelmed the city’s water supply, forcing officials to issue a boil advisory and leading to the cancellation of classes in the Allamakee Community School District.
The court sentenced Jones to 25 years in prison for first-degree arson, mandating that she serve at least 70% of her term before being eligible for parole. Additionally, she received a two-year sentence for the animal mistreatment charge, which came with a fine of $855 plus a 15% surcharge – though the fine and surcharge were suspended. While her Iowa sentences will run concurrently, they must be served consecutively to her existing sentence in Minnesota, where she was convicted of financial crimes in early 2024 and is currently serving her time.
Jones’ history with the legal system spans more than two decades and is riddled with allegations of fraud, theft, and deception. She has gone by multiple aliases, including Mindy Bear, Mindy Jacobsen, and Mindy Riley. Her criminal record dates back to 1997, when she was first charged with theft and forgery. Over the years, accusations of manipulation and fraud have followed her, ensnaring numerous victims in her web of deceit.
One of the most disturbing cases linked to Jones occurred in 2006, when she was accused of orchestrating an attack on Mark Yungtum, a former friend. Yungtum claimed that Jones arranged for three masked men to ambush him outside his home in Sumner, Iowa. According to his account, the men strangled him with a wire and wooden dowels before setting his house on fire. While the case ultimately ended in a mistrial, Yungtum was later convicted of the arson himself in a retrial—though he has continuously asserted his innocence and insisted that Jones was the true mastermind behind the attack.
Jones’ legal troubles only escalated in the following years. In 2014, while using the name Mindy Riley, she was accused of defrauding John and Megan Eimers, a couple who had once considered her a close friend. Jones allegedly stole more than $134,000 from them through forged checks and unauthorized credit card transactions. As if the financial betrayal wasn’t enough, she later accused John Eimers of rape – a claim that was thoroughly investigated but ultimately led to no charges. In 2016, Jones pleaded guilty to five counts of forgery and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. However, she managed to delay her punishment by remaining free on an appeal bond, a pattern that has characterized her legal maneuvers for years.
While still facing legal challenges, Jones opened her retail store, Tin, Rust & Harmony. Initially based in Harmony, Minn., the store later moved to Waukon, Iowa. However, her business ventures were soon marred by allegations of fraud. In 2021, she was found guilty of theft-by-swindle for conducting an illegal raffle under the pretense of raising money for charity. She was also accused of issuing bad checks and mismanaging consignment sales, with one victim, Marsha Angell, claiming that Jones owed her more than $32,000 for furniture and décor sold at the store.
Jones’ fraudulent schemes caught up with her in early 2024 when she was sentenced to 27 months in prison for financial crimes in Minnesota. During her sentencing hearing, Angell delivered a powerful victim impact statement, detailing how Jones’ actions left her on the verge of financial ruin. She also mentioned other victims who had been too afraid to come forward, highlighting the lasting damage Jones inflicted on those who trusted her.
With this latest conviction for arson and animal mistreatment, Jones’ legal battles appear far from over. She will remain in custody until she is transported to the Iowa Correctional Institution for Women in Mitchellville, though that transfer will not take place until she completes her Minnesota sentence. The court has ruled that she will receive credit for time already served. Additionally, the State has been given 30 days to assess financial damages and determine the restitution she owes to her victims. Jones has the right to contest the restitution amount in court.
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