Couple accused of breaking into homes while kids wait in van

RACINE -- A Racine couple faces criminal charges for allegedly trying to break into two homes. This, while their three young children were waiting in a van.

20-year-old Marcel Jones and 24-year-old Oriona Richmond each face two counts of attempted burglary, party to a crime.

The criminal complaint against the two says they were "casing homes" near Lindermann Ave. and Kentucky St. in Racine around 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, August 21st. A police officer was dispatched to the neighborhood after someone got suspicious.

When the officer arrived on the scene, he spotted Jones and Richmond running out of a yard and getting into a van parked nearby. The officer pulled over the van. He noticed a Phillips screwdriver standing on end in the pocket of the driver's side door. He thought it was unlikely the screwdriver would be on end after the van had been moving.

Richmond was in the passenger seat while her three children, ages 4, 5, and 7, were all sitting in the back seat of the van. None of them were in car seats nor did they have safety belts fastened.

When questioned by the officer, Jones said he was taking his stepdaughter to a doctor’s appointment and first said he was never out of the van. Later, he said he got out because it broke down. When confronted with the fact an officer spotted him and his wife running from a yard, Jones changed his story yet again saying he needed to use the bathroom and planned to go behind a house.

Jones eventually admitted to trying to break into homes in the neighborhood.

Richmond's aunt was called to take custody of the children because the couple was being arrested.

Jones is currently being held in Racine County Jail on $1,000 bail, while Richmond is being held on $500 bail plus a $2,000 signature bond.  

If convicted, Jones and Richmond each face up to six years and three months in prison and $12,500 in fines.

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