Woman tells of rage over mother’s killing

Erica D. Johnson

Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2003 | 8:51 a.m.

The daughter of an elderly widow who was killed by the man she tried to help told a District Court judge Tuesday she has been filled with rage since her mother's murder.

Tracy Arce said she had to put her anger aside to attend the sentencing of Brett Jones, who pleaded guilty in the September 2001 beating death of Shirley Rogers, 67.

"I've lived with anger and hurt and rage for the last year and a half," Arce said. "I don't feel one ounce of sadness for this predator."

Jones had pleaded guilty to one count of murder of a victim over 65 and one count of robbery of a victim over 65.

The plea agreement came after a jury returned with a first-degree murder verdict in his trial. By pleading guilty Jones avoided the death penalty.

District Judge Valorie Vega sentenced Jones to two consecutive life sentences without parole for the murder charge and two sentences of 40 months to 15 years in prison for the robbery charge.

The sentences will run consecutively.

Jones, 25, sobbed as he told Arce he was sorry for what he'd done.

"I want to apologize to you, the family," he said. "I'm sorry. I really am. I know it doesn't make up for what I did."

Chief Deputy District Attorney Robert Daskas asked Vega to sentence Jones to an additional 72 to 180 months on the robbery charge, the maximum allowed.

"Fortunately for Jones, the family of the victim showed some compassion and they were satisfied with life in prison," he said.

But Deputy Public Defender Will Ewing said his client should be given some leniency because he has taken full responsibility for his actions.

"He's looking for some ray of hope sometime in the future," Ewing said. "Throughout all this, he's always felt a level of remorse that was consistent and appropriate."

Rogers had rescued Jones from a homeless shelter. In exchange for the use of her truck and a room, Jones agreed to provide menial labor for Rogers when he wasn't working construction.

Prosecutors alleged Jones beat and strangled Rogers to death when she asked him to move out. Jones was on probation for robbery at the time of the incident.

Arce said she and her mother were not on speaking terms when the woman was killed.

"I didn't even get a chance to apologize for our last argument," she said.