Rep. Jewell Jones arraigned on two felonies after bringing handcuff key into jail

State Rep. Jewell Jones, D-Inkster, was charged with two felonies after prosecutors allege he brought a handcuff key into the Livingston County Jail following his court hearing Tuesday afternoon. 

"Allegations in this matter allege the Defendant taping a handcuff key to the bottom of his foot with clear tape and was found by Livingston County Corrections Officers upon his incarceration," Livingston County Chief Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Carolyn Henry wrote in a bond recommendation form. Jones was charged with one count each of bringing a weapon into a jail and escape waiting a felony trial.

Jones was charged with one count each of bringing a weapon into a jail and escape waiting trial for a felony.

Jones was handcuffed and transported to the jail Tuesday afternoon after Livingston County Judge Michael Hatty revoked Jones' bond after Jones pleaded guilty to his third bond violation. 

He was out on bond after being charged with drunken driving stemming from an April 6 incident in Fowlerville.

Jones is also charged with possession of a weapon while under the influence of alcohol, reckless driving and four counts of resisting and obstructing a police officer.

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"He realizes the seriousness of the allegations," Byron Nolan, one of Jones' attorney, said during the arraignment.

Henry asked for a high cash or surety bond citing Jones' bond violation. 

"He has shown this court that he is not going to follow terms of bond set by this court," she said. "He has shown to the court, through his actions, that he will lie to the court and he will continue to do whatever he wants."

Livingston County Magistrate Jerry Sherwood set Jones' bond at $100,000 cash or surety. 

Sherwood also ordered Jones to surrender any police items such as a handcuff key, baton and pepper spray. 

"This guy is a piece of work. He truly believes that he doesn’t have to follow the judge's orders, doesn’t have to follow rules," Livingston County Sheriff Michael Murphy said. "He’s the reason that politicians and elected officials get the bad rap."

Murphy said there is no general rule for when those in custody may be handcuffed and he is not sure why Jones brought the key with him.

"You could run through unlimited possibilities," he said. "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."

History of bond violations

Prosecutors filed a motion to revoke Jones' bond earlier this month after he tested positive for alcohol three times on Sept. 3.

His alcohol tether indicated a transdermal alcohol concentration level of 0.023 at 12:59 p.m., 0.023 at 4:37 p.m. and 0.022 at 7:09 p.m. on Sept. 3, according to court records. 

Jones attempted to tamper with his tether by putting a sock fully underneath the tether on Sept. 6, Livingston County Assistant Prosecutor Christina Richards said Tuesday.

He pleaded guilty to two previous bond violations since charges were filed in April. 

In June, Jones pleaded guilty to a bond violation after leaving military training without notifying his attorney or court officials.

Livingston County District Court Judge Daniel Bain ordered Jones to have an alcohol monitor placed on his ankle following the first violation. 

Jones failed to pay the July 8 invoice for the device, Emily Shelton, a Livingston County probation officer, said during a second bond violation hearing. 

At that hearing, Hatty ordered Jones to pay a $1,000 fine.

Jones is scheduled to appear in front of Hatty for a pretrial hearing on Friday. 

Contact Kayla Daugherty at 517-552-2848 or kdaugherty@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @KayDaugherty92