Fred Jones, Sr. was the corrupt mayor of Crystal Cove and the 'surrogate' father of Fred Jr.. On the surface he seemed to only care more about making money from the town's mysteries rather than solving them, which conflicted with his son, contributing to an already awkward relationship. In reality, this was a cover for a much darker and obsessed personality, one who had gone to great lengths to complete the Planispheric Disk. He forced the original Mystery Incorporated to leave Crystal Cove and bargained away the guardianship of the son of Brad Chiles and Judy Reeves.