State Rep. Jewell Jones was sentenced Thursday to two years probation under the Holmes Youthful Trainee Act after previously pleading guilty to a variety of alcohol, weapons and other charges stemming from a 2021 traffic stop in Livingston County.
Livingston County Circuit Court Chief Judge Michael Hatty said Jones, a 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.
"What's really at play here is, you violated a number of laws, admitted to those things and you're on the path to being a good citizen. That's all I ask," Hatty said. "That's all I want for you to continue while you are on probation. I put a pretty large number of conditions on your release after I reinstated your bond after 60 days. I think that you honored those orders of the court. I think you finally understand that it wasn't a request, but it was an order. You've done what you're supposed to do and I expect you to do that going forward."
Speaking after the hearing, Jones said he had learned a lot and hoped to help others.
“I’m pleased with what happened today in court. I appreciate Attorney (Byron) Nolen for doing his due diligence and really weighing in on my behalf. I appreciate Judge Hatty for sticking to the facts of the case with so much stuff surrounding it,” Jones said.“There’s a lot of people in the same situation who are battling different things and battling the system, but I would like to make sure I take a more active role in helping some of those people."
During Thursday's hearing, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Christina Richards presented a victim impact statement from Paul Russo, who was driving alongside Jones during the April 6, 2021, incident. Russo's statement recounted how he called911 about Jones and noted Jones could have struck someone as he was driving along the shoulder of I-96.
“What is it going to take to address this man's apparent disregard for the law and his reckless behavior?” Richards read from Russo’s statement. “Here we have a state representative, a potential role model, but unfortunately a man who has still not become a mature adult. He certainly hasn’t shown any true remorse for his actions.”
Richards told Hatty she's never seen a response to a case like she has in the Jones case.
“Our office has received numerous communications from the public concerning this case and asking that the defendant not be treated with leniency. In my 15 years as prosecutor, I’ve never seen the public directly contact the prosecutor's office in this manner, including in murder cases and home invasion cases,” Richards said.
Nolentold the courtJones pleaded guilty to several offenses and has not received special treatment.
“My client is in alcohol treatment, right now," Nolan 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 to100 hours of community service and 61 days in jail, butcredited him with61 days served. Jones also was ordered to pay various fines and court costs.
Hatty said Jones has the potential to reformand that he doesn't get into the habit of putting people in jailunnecessarily.
"I think that what is offered by the prosecutor gets us to justice and holds you accountable, but also gives your future the opportunity to grow as you want it to. It's in your hands," Hatty said.
As part of a deal with prosecutors, Jones pleaded guilty last month 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 froma 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 theHolmes Youthful Trainee Act for offenses that happened before Jones' 26th birthday. The act allows young offenders to avoid a permanent criminal record if they successfully complete a probationary period.
Jones was not eligible for HYTA for charges filed underthe motor vehicle code and those stemmingfrom incidents after he turned 26.
At the time, Jones said he wanted to get back to go work as a full-time state representative.
"I think we all make mistakes," he said, "I don't think it's so much about being innocent. I don't think it's so much about being guilty. Sometimes, you just have to accept the facts, I made the mistake. I made many mistakes in my life, maybe this is just one of the ways I am paying for it."
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 Interstate 96 near Fowlerville Road.
Troopers were called to the area to investigate reports ofa reckless driver.
In dashcam video played in court last year,officers can be seen grappling with Jones during the traffic stop. Jones can be heard in the video saying he wantsto give police his ID, after previously refusing to multiple times.
He also referred to one of the troopers as the N-word and other expletives.
Police used a shock device twice, andpepper spray, before Jones complied with officers' request for his left arm so they could handcuff him. Jones was handcuffed and placed into a Livingston County Sheriff's Office vehicle.
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.
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