Sylvester T. Jones, 39, Newport, pleaded guilty to intentional second-degree murder and was sentenced to over 30 years in prison for the murder of his cousin in 2023. On July 30, the Honorable Siv Mjanger sentenced Jones to 367 months in prison. The sentence was the result of a plea agreement that requires Jones to serve the maximum presumptive sentence called for by the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines.
At his guilty plea hearing, Jones admitted to shooting his cousin, Terrell E. McIntyre, multiple times while McIntyre sat in the driver’s seat of an SUV in the parking lot of the Newport transit center. The Washington County Sheriff’s Office was called to the scene of the shooting after a witness saw McIntyre slumped over in the driver’s seat of the SUV.
Investigators worked with local businesses to review outside surveillance footage and track Jones as he left the area. Investigation into prior law enforcement contacts led authorities to a home on the 1700 block of First Avenue, just blocks from where the shooting took place. The Washington County Multi-Jurisdictional SWAT team assisted in executing a search warrant at the residence that night, and Jones was taken into custody. A gun was located on the floor of Jones’s bedroom.
Kevin Magnuson, Washington County Attorney, stated, “Our thoughts go out to the family of the victim of this totally senseless crime. Any homicidal violence in our community is terrifying but, thankfully, rare. This dangerous person is off the street and I thank the prosecutors, Marc Berris and Keshini Ratnayake, for their hard work. I also commend the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, assisting law enforcement agencies, and the citizens who came forward to help in this case.”
In addition to the 367-month prison sentence, Jones was ordered to pay a total of $8,500 in restitution for reimbursement of funeral expenses.
In February 2023, Jones, was charged with felony second degree dangerous weapon – firearm murder with intent – not premeditated. The charge description stated “Cause of death of T.E.M. with intent to effect the death of the victim or another, but without premeditation.” The maximum sentence for his charge was 40 years.