State Rep. Jewell Jones sentenced after probation violation

HOWELL — State Rep. Jewell Jones pleaded guilty Thursday in Livingston County Court to a probation violation in connection to a previous drunken driving conviction.

His attorney, Byron Nolen, said the probation violation occurred because Jones' grandmother recently died and he was drinking, then failed an alcohol screening the next day.

Jones was sentenced to 30 days in jail by Livingston County Circuit Court Chief Judge Michael Hatty. The jail time will be dismissed in exchange for Jewell completing a 30-day inpatient substance abuse treatment program.

His program will be complete next week, then he will switch to an outpatient program, his lawyer said.

Nolen said Jones would retain his Holmes Youthful Trainee Act status despite the violation. The act allows young offenders to avoid a permanent criminal record if they successfully complete a probationary period.

According to the Michigan House website, the Legislature was scheduled to be in session this week.

“We hope the best for Rep. Jones’ health and offer our sincere encouragement on his journey toward wellness and recovery," Michigan House Minority Leader Donna Lasinski, D-Scio Township, said in a prepared statement. "The road ahead for those battling with alcohol use is often a rough one; most will face multiple relapses as they strive for recovery, and while Rep. Jones may not win every battle along the way, I have faith he will win the war.”

Jones was sentenced March 17, 2022, to two years probation under HYTA after previously pleading guilty to a variety of alcohol, weapons and other charges stemming from a 2021 traffic stop in Livingston County.

During his initial sentencing in March, Hatty said Jones, an 11th District Democrat from Inkster, did not deserve to spend more time in jail for his behavior during a chain of events that included a traffic stop on Interstate-96, bond violations and an attempt to escape from the county jail in September 2021.

During the sentencing, Nolen told the court Jones pleaded guilty to several offenses and has not received special treatment.

“My client is in alcohol treatment, right now," Nolen said. "He’s also doing counseling with a psychologist and he’s been doing that the entire time since he’s been released and he’s doing well, so I think he has accepted that responsibility.”

In addition to probation under HYTA, Hatty sentenced Jones to 100 hours of community service and 61 days in jail, but credited him with 61 days served. Jones also was ordered to pay various fines and court costs.

As part of a deal with prosecutors, Jones pleaded guilty to two counts of resisting and obstructing police, driving while intoxicated and possessing a weapon while under the influence of alcohol.

He also pleaded guilty to reckless driving and attempted escape from custody while awaiting trial on a misdemeanor charge.

Prosecutors dismissed two other counts of resisting and obstructing, driving with a high blood-alcohol content, bringing a weapon into a jail and escape while awaiting trial for a felony.

The escape charge stemmed from a September 2021 incident in which Jones was jailed for violating his bond conditions. Jail staff said they discovered a handcuff key taped to the bottom of his foot.

The Livingston County Prosecutor's Office agreed to recommend Jones be sentenced under HYTA for offenses that happened before Jones' 26th birthday.

Jones was not eligible for HYTA for charges filed under the motor vehicle code and those stemming from incidents after he turned 26.

As part of his deal with prosecutors, Jones wrote apology letters to two Michigan State Police troopers who arrested him after the April 6, 2021, traffic stop on westbound I-96 near Fowlerville Road.

Troopers were called to the area to investigate reports of a reckless driver.

Jones had a blood alcohol content of at least 0.17%, according to the police complaint, more than twice the 0.08% limit at which a person can be convicted of drunken driving.

This article originally appeared on Livingston Daily: State Rep. Jewell Jones pleaded guilty to probation violation