Seniya Jones (Source: Canton PD)
CANTON, TX (KLTV) -
The East Texas teenager who police say faked her own kidnapping after crashing her mother's SUV is now facing charges.
According to Canton Police Department, three arrest warrants were obtained Thursday for 17-year-old Seniya Jones. On Friday at 9 a.m., the teen turned herself in at Canton PD.
Jones was arrested on one charge of unauthorized use of a vehicle, one charge of false alarm/report, and one charge of false report to a peace officer. The teen was booked and arraigned by Judge Lilia Durham of the Canton Municipal Court.
Her bail was set at $2,000 for unauthorized use of vehicle, $1,000 for false alarm/report, and $1,000 for false report to a peace officer. Jones has been transferred to the Van Zandt County Sheriff's Office.
Canton PD has been in contact with the Van Zandt County Criminal District Attorney's Office, who will be seeking restitution for the expenses of the manhunt that followed Jones' false kidnapping claim. Expenses include calling in off-duty police officers, as well as use of the Texas Department of Public Safety's helicopter.
The case is being referred to the Van Zandt County Criminal District Attorney's Office for prosecution.
Jones took her mother's SUV on Tuesday without permission, wrecked it, and then told authorities that a kidnapper had forced her into the vehicle. The teen caused a two-vehicle rollover collision. She told authorities that the kidnapper was driving the SUV at the time of the crash, but ran into the woods after the accident. After inconsistencies in Jones' story, officers called off the search for the kidnapper.
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