Man who dragged trooper in Saugus in 2004 gets 8-10

SALEM – A Roxbury man who admitted dragging a state trooper some 200 feet after being stopped in Saugus for speeding in 2004 received 8-to-10-years in state prison.Matthew Jones, 37, pleaded guilty Thursday afternoon in Salem Superior Court to five charges: assault with intent to murder, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery on a public employee, resisting arrest and failure to stop for police, before Judge David A. Lowy.Assistant District Attorney Greg A. Friedholm said the charges arise out of an incident in Saugus on Route 1 on April 5, 2004.It was around 2 a.m. when State Trooper Kevin Kaupp pulled over Jones for speeding and crossing marked lanes.As he was being placed under arrest, Jones broke free and jumped back into the blue Volvo he was driving.State Trooper Ronald Baker interceded and tried to stop Jones as he was escaping south on Route 1 and was dragged some 200 feet.Baker tried to hold onto Jones and was repeatedly punched in the head by Jones as he sped away.Baker was dragged as the Volvo hit the right side guardrail, swerving back and forth, and Baker let go. He suffered injuries to his knees and head (from being punched).The Volvo, which was not registered to Jones, was found about 90 minutes later crashed into a storefront in Somerville. Police found a receipt with Jones’ name on it and a date of birth that matched the one Jones had given troopers when first pulled over. Jones had given a different name then but was later identified through a photo array.Friedholm urged the court to send Jones to prison for up to 10 years, noting the brutal, egregious facts of the case. Defense lawyer Rebecca Whitehill asked for a lesser committed sentence.Jones defaulted on the case in April of 2006.The sentence imposed will run concurrent with the 10-year federal sentence Jones is currently serving on a firearm charge out of Rhode Island. The judge also agreed to credit time served back to August of 2005.