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Former Jones County coroner indicted on 44 counts of theft

Former Jones County Coroner Jerry Bridges, Sr. resigned in June after being arrested for fraud-related charges

JONES COUNTY, Ga. — A Jones County grand jury indicted former Jones County Coroner Jerry Bridges Sr. on more than 40 theft and fraud charges Tuesday.

Bridges resigned after being arrested back in June.

At the time, he was charged with stealing over $100,000 from families during his time as owner of Bridges Funeral Home and current owner of Cedar Ridge cemetery.

The indictment says that number is now more $200,000. Bridges allegedly stole amounts ranging from several hundred dollars to $18,000 from one customer.

In June, Lieutenant Kenny Gleaton with the Jones County Sheriff's Office says he stole from two accounts.

One was set up to hold money that people paid in advance for funerals called a pre-needs account. The other was intended to pay for perpetual care of lots at the Cedar Ridge Cemetery.

In all, Gleaton originally said Bridges allegedly took money from 22 people. The indictment lists at least a dozen more.

After the arrest in June, Probate Judge Mike Greene swore in Matt Jarratt as the new Jones County coroner. He will serve the rest of Bridges' term, which ends in 2020.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

CASE HISTORY

#13INVESTIGATES: ‘Rotten to the bones:’ State let Gray cemetery owner operate despite known issues

'My day will be in court:' Jones County coroner addresses theft charges

'It's pretty atrocious:' Jones County coroner resigns after arrest on 24 fraud-related charges

ORIGINAL STORY: Jones County coroner resigns after being arrested on 24 counts

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