By Mark Bellune
markbellune@yahoo.com
Lexington County taxpayers will dole out more than $70,000 for the death penalty trial of Tim Jones.
Trial expenses so far for the 6-week trial have totalled $487,845.
That figure is expected to rise, according to Lexington County spokesperson Harrison Cahill.
Timothy Ray Jones Jr. was sentenced to death in June after being convicted by a Lexington County jury in the slayings of his children —  Merah, 8; Elias, 7; Nahtahn, 6; Gabriel, 2 and Elaine (Abigail), 1 — on Aug. 28, 2014.
The defense spent the bulk with $414,053 so far, Cahill confirmed Thursday.
Most of that was spent on outside experts, many who testified in court for the defense, said Hervery B.O. Young, deputy director of the SC Commission of Indigent Defense.
That money will be paid by state taxpayers.
Lexington County taxpayers will be liable for costs from the Solicitor’s Office that prosecuted Jones and the Clerk of Court.
They spent $34,180 and $39,612, respectively, for a total of $73,792 that local taxpayers will foot.