Mason City man pleads not guilty to assaulting girlfriend, setting her Rudd home on fire

RUDD — A Mason City man arrested for allegedly assaulting his girlfriend and setting her home on fire in Floyd County has pleaded not guilty.

33-year-old Tyrone Jones is accused on January 8th of kicking the victim in the face, back, and back of the head; strangling her to the point she lost consciousness, and burning her with a cigarette. Jones is also accused of stealing two phones and starting a fire at the girlfriend’s home in Rudd before leaving. The victim says Jones tied her hands and feet to her bed with a rope on a previous occasion.

Jones was charged with first-degree arson, domestic abuse assault, third-degree theft and false imprisonment. Jones filed a written plea of not guilty to the charges on Monday in Floyd County District Court. His trial is scheduled to start on March 29th.

If convicted of all the charges, Jones would face up to 33 years in prison.