Bessemer man gets life in prison for Cullman County robbery

Updated Feb. 25, 2025, at 9:15 p.m.

CULLMAN, Ala. – According to Cullman County District Attorney Champ Crocker, Mark Ples Jones, 50, of Bessemer pleaded guilty to first-degree robbery and was sentenced to life in prison on Monday, Feb. 24, in Cullman County Circuit Court.

On Sept. 9, 2023, The Cullman Tribune reported:

Early Friday morning, Cullman Police Officers Roy Bates and Daniel Palisay were patrolling in the area of Warnke Road Southwest when they witnessed a silver Chevrolet Impala speeding through a parking lot. As it entered the roadway, the Impala narrowly avoided a collision with the patrol vehicle. 

After stopping the Impala, Bates and Palisay quickly determined that the two occupants had just committed a robbery at a nearby residence. Terrelle Williams, 26, of Cullman, was following the Impala after allegedly being robbed by the two individuals inside the vehicle. Williams informed the officers of the situation.  

The CPD said Bates and Palisay recovered the victim’s stolen wallet, money, a cell phone and the weapon used in the robbery, which linked the suspects to the crime.  

Stanley Ray Menefee, 69, of Ensley, and Mark Ples Jones, 49, of Bessemer, were arrested and charged with first-degree robbery and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.    

Cullman Police Chief David Nassetta said, “They (the officers) were where they were supposed to be and recognized the situation for what it was. It was the right place and the right time.” 

In announcing Jones’ plea and sentencing, Crocker said Feb. 24, 2025, “I would like to commend the Cullman Police Department for their swift response to this crime. Their hard work and professionalism helped bring about an appropriate sentence for this career criminal.”

Recently sworn-in Cullman County Circuit Judge Emily Niezer Johnston handed down the life sentence.

According to Jones’ plea agreement, three or more prior felony convictions triggered the mandatory sentence.

Crocker said on Tuesday, Feb. 25: “This offender had three prior felony convictions in the Alabama court system prior to committing this armed robbery. He held the victim at knifepoint and stole the victim’s property. Under the habitual offender law, the defendant was subject to life in prison upon conviction.”