Rep. Jewell Jones, D-M.I., is having a rough few months, according to authorities.
Jones was taken into custody Tuesday after prosecutors accused him of violating bond conditions by tampering with an alcohol monitor on his ankle after his arrest in April.
According to the report, officers found the key taped to Jones’ foot during intake to the Livingston County jail. He was arraigned Wednesday on two news charges: Attempting to escape custody while awaiting a felony trial and bringing a weapon into jail,
The 26-year-old Michigan state representative has been in and out of Livingston County court since April when he was charged with drunken driving, resisting police, and other offenses. During his arrest, police say Jones told them it was “not going to be good for you.” Police also said Jones threatened to “call Governor [Gretchen] Whitmer right now.”
Jones also reportedly tried to use the governor’s influence when getting a mugshot. “You know what? Big Gretch is the homie,” he allegedly said. Jones wanted to wear a mask while getting photographed during his first intake.
“When she finds out about this, she might be a little upset about the treatment. She’s very serious about the pandemic so I’m just wondering if I can wear the mask.”
Officers say they are less than impressed with Jones.
“This guy is a real piece of work, and an embarrassment to all elected officials, and I believe he thinks somehow the laws do not apply to him,” Livingston County Sheriff Michael Murphy told local news station FOX2.
“More than that, I am mad. Had the handcuff key ended in an injury to my staff or another inmate I am not sure what I would have done, as my primary responsibility is the safety and security of my staff and inmates.”
Murphy said he wasn’t sure what Jones’ plans were if he’d successfully smuggled the key into his jail cell.
“You could run through unlimited possibilities. At the end of the day, folks are handcuffed to and from a facility. If someone has a handcuff key, that’s a bad day for us,” Murphy said.
Jones had previously told Judge Michael Hatty that he takes responsibility for testing positive for alcohol on Sept. 3 and tampering with his ankle monitor on Labor Day. The judge revoked his bond.
“This defendant’s actions from his conduct during the charged crimes through each of the three violations show that he believes that as a person who makes our laws, that he is above our laws,” assistant prosecutor Christina Richards said at the time.
In June, Jones was excused from court-ordered drug and alcohol screenings while he was at Michigan National Guard training in Grayling.
Jones, however, was seen in a Facebook photo at Planet Fitness during that time.
He was elected in 2016. Jones pleaded not guilty to the new charges during his Wednesday arraignment.
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The Associated Press contributed to this article