Another day, another criminal preying on hardworking American families. This time it was a grown man in a Chuck E. Cheese costume who thought he could steal from a single mother’s child support card. Jermel Jones, 41, was caught red-handed with the stolen card in his pocket while dressed as the beloved mouse mascot in Tallahassee, Florida.
The victim was a responsible mother who lost track of her debit card during her child’s birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese in late June. She did what too many crime victims have to do these days – she became her own detective. This hardworking woman tracked down surveillance footage herself and identified Jones as the thief who stole her money.
Jones used this mother’s child support money – money meant to feed and clothe her children – to buy whatever he wanted at smoke shops, grocery stores, and burger joints. He racked up over $100 in fraudulent charges while this single mom probably struggled to make ends meet. This is exactly the kind of selfish criminal behavior that’s destroying our communities.
When police finally showed up to arrest this lowlife, he was entertaining children while hiding his criminal activities behind that innocent mouse costume. The arrest happened right in front of families just trying to enjoy a wholesome afternoon with their kids. Children watched in horror as their beloved Chuck E. Cheese was led away in handcuffs, screaming “Chuck E, no!”
The whole scene was a perfect example of how criminals have no shame and no respect for the innocent. This grown man traumatized dozens of children because he couldn’t keep his hands off other people’s property. Parents had to explain to their confused kids why their favorite mouse character was being arrested.
Even when caught red-handed with the stolen card in his pocket, Jones tried to lie his way out of trouble. He claimed he just “found” the card and “never used it” despite clear evidence showing otherwise. On top of the theft charges, police also found marijuana on him, because of course they did.
This case shows exactly why we need tough law and order policies that actually punish criminals. Too many crooks think they can get away with stealing from hardworking Americans without facing real consequences. Every parent who takes their children to places like Chuck E. Cheese should be able to trust that their personal information is safe.
Jones has been charged with credit card theft, fraudulent use of a credit card, and criminal use of personal identification information. He bonded out of jail, which means he’s back on the streets while this victimized mother has to deal with the financial mess he created. This is exactly why our justice system needs to get tougher on criminals who prey on innocent families.
