close
close

Association-anemone

Bite-sized brilliance in every update

    • Commissioner Grand Traverse Co. pleads guilty to employing a prostitute
    asane

    Commissioner Grand Traverse Co. pleads guilty to employing a prostitute

    Online Niel Posted on

    A Grand Traverse County commissioner has pleaded guilty to hiring a prostitute, a state official said.

    Brad Jewett, 55, of Traverse City, pleaded guilty Tuesday in 86th District Court in Traverse City to a misdemeanor charge of engaging in prostitution, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said in a statement of the press.

    In exchange for his guilty plea, prosecutors dismissed the use of a computer to commit a felony charge against him, according to the statement. The crime is a one-year misdemeanor.

    Officials said a sentencing date has not yet been set.

    “As this conviction demonstrates, no one is above the law,” Nessel said. “My department will continue to hold accountable those who engage in criminal activity, regardless of their position.”

    Jewett’s attorney, Paul Jarboe of Traverse City, said his client “is grateful to have closed this personal matter and remains an important and valued member of our community.”

    Jewett is a Republican member of the Grand Traverse County Commission and serves as vice chairman, Nessel’s office said. According to the county commission website, he was elected to the commission for the first time in 2018. He is in his third term and serves the IV sector of the county. He was said to have grown up in Mesick and lived in the county for 33 years.

    He won his August primary for the District 4 commission seat with no opposition on the ballot, Grand Traverse County election records show. He lost to Democrat Fern Spence of Traverse City in the Nov. 5 general election. Spence received 3,423 votes to Jewett’s 2,969.

    Authorities said a law enforcement task force began an undercover operation in Grand Traverse County in June. As part of the operation, police placed advertisements on a website they know advertises sexual services.

    After Jewett allegedly responded to one of their ads, they took their findings to the county prosecutor’s office, police said. Prosecutors sent the case to the state Attorney General’s Office for review because the investigation involved a local elected official.

    Attorney General’s Office Jewett charged in September.

    [email protected]

    @CharlesERamirez

    Online Niel
    View all posts

    You Might Also Like