Man pleads not guilty to murder charge

By Times staff writer

© St. Petersburg Times, published January 13, 2001

DADE CITY -- Jonathan Dye Jones made it official Friday, entering a written plea of not guilty in Circuit Court.

Jones, 34, of Dade City, was charged with murder Monday, accused of killing 47-year-old Florentino Cano in what authorities said was a scam that went bad Saturday on Dade City's west side.

Jones remained at the Pasco County jail in Land O'Lakes on Friday without bail. He told the Times on Tuesday that he was innocent and entered his written not-guilty plea Friday, according to court records.

Records did not show a date for his arraignment as of Friday, but Jones also entered notice of his intent to waive appearance at arraignment and pretrial hearings, although it will be up to a judge to decide if he will have to appear in person.

Investigators say Jones and two women were scamming Cano out of his wallet when Jones opened fire with a handgun, killing Cano with four shots.

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