Teens Rob to Pay Mortgage

Three teenage sisters and their mother conspired to rob a bank because their family was broke and needed the money to make a mortgage payment, authorities said.

The girls' father was later charged after he learned what had happened but failed to notify police.

Kathleen Wortman Jones, 34, and her two 14-year-old daughters were charged Monday with armed robbery and weapons offense, while Jones' 16-year-old stepdaughter was charged with conspiracy to commit armed robbery.

Jones also was charged with aiding and abetting an armed robbery and acting as an accomplice in the possession of an imitation firearm and theft.

The girls' father, Kelvin Jones, 37, who uses the name Kevin, was charged with receiving stolen property and hindering apprehension.

Kathleen Jones drove the two 14-year-olds to the Sun National Bank on Oct. 29 and waited to help them make their escape after the robbery, Ocean County Prosecutor Thomas F. Kelaher said. The two girls, armed with a fake handgun, stole $3,050, he said.

All five suspects were arrested Friday after township police and an FBI agent raided their Barnegat home. The handgun used in the robbery and $2,700 of the stolen cash has been recovered, police said.

Township Police Chief Edward Smith said Kelvin Jones' role in the crime was "minimal" and that he did not know his wife and daughters committed the crime until they came home with the money. Smith said the suspects told authorities that they were having financial troubles and were on the verge of losing their car and home.

The couple made their initial appearances Monday and were both being held Tuesday on $75,000 bail. The 14-year-olds remained at the Ocean County Juvenile Shelter in Toms River, while the 16-year-old was released to her grandmother's custody.

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Author: NBC10/AP