Photo by Mike Ellis

A judge ruled Friday that there was enough evidence for a trial of a man accused of an April apartment invasion and robbery.

Jamario Jones, 33, is charged with armed robbery, burglary and weapon possession in the invasion of a Belton home April 15.

According to a deputy sheriff’s report, Jones forced his way in while brandishing a handgun.

The report alleges that Melody Ellis entered after Jones had forced the resident of the apartment, a woman whose name was blacked out in the police report, to lie face down and Ellis kicked the woman in the face. The report says that another woman, whose name also was blacked out, and the woman’s 2-year-old daughter were also kicked in the face by Ellis.

Ellis did not appear in court Friday.

Jones and Ellis left the apartment after several minutes with cash and a cell phone, according to the report.

The two were seen running past the Belton Emergency Medical Services station near the apartment complex, according to detective Tommy Johnson’s testimony on Friday. A member of the EMS squad said that he approached a male who was running past to see if the man needed help when another member of the squad yelled out that the man had a gun, Johnson said.

Jones and Ellis also can be seen on video at the nearby Belton Food Mart, talking on a cell phone and then leaving in a green car that came shortly after, the detective said.

Jones’ defense attorney, Donald Smith, questioned how much money was taken after Johnson, of the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office, testified that the victims said $350 was missing, while the deputy’s report says that $322 was taken from the house.

Smith asked that the charges be dismissed because of that and other discrepancies in the witnesses’ statements.

Judge Dan Sharp ruled that there was enough evidence for the case to move forward.

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