Woman Charged with Felony After Allegedly Threatening Deputy During Transport

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A 31-year-old Smithfield woman, Candice Marie Jones, was arrested on a failure-to-appear warrant and is now facing an additional felony charge after allegedly threatening a Johnston County sheriff's deputy during transport to the detention center.

Why it matters

Threats against law enforcement officers are taken very seriously, as they can escalate tensions and put public safety at risk. This incident highlights the challenges deputies face when transporting individuals to jail, and the potential consequences for those who choose to threaten or assault officers.

The details

According to the Johnston County Sheriff's Office, a deputy went to a residence on Braswell Road on Feb. 7 to serve an arrest warrant on Candice Marie Jones for failure to appear in court on a 2025 charge of possession of drug paraphernalia. Jones was taken into custody without incident, but while being transported in a patrol vehicle to the Johnston County Detention Center, authorities said she allegedly threatened to kick the deputy in the face. As a result, Jones was charged with threatening a court/public official, a felony offense.

• On February 7, 2026, a deputy served an arrest warrant on Candice Marie Jones.
• During transport to the Johnston County Detention Center, Jones allegedly threatened the deputy.

What’s next

Jones was held under a $1,000 secured bond on the failure-to-appear warrant and an additional $20,000 bond on the felony charge.