AUGUSTA, Maine — Former state Rep. Brian Jones on Thursday pleaded guilty in Kennebec County District Court to two misdemeanor charges stemming from an incident in which the Democrat from Freedom gave police officers a fake name after being caught having sex in a public place in September.
Jones was charged last year with indecent conduct and failure to give a correct name, both Class E offenses, after state police found him having sex with a Sabattus woman, who was not his wife, in a parked van at the West Gardiner Park and Ride.
At the time, Jones — then a freshman member of the Maine House of Representatives — attributed his behavior to his “long-term struggle with alcoholism,” which he described as a challenge for both himself and his family. He has since sought treatment.
As part of a plea agreement, the state on Thursday dropped the indecent conduct charge and replaced it with a charge of disorderly conduct, also a Class E crime. Jones then pleaded guilty to the remaining charges in exchange for deferred sentencing until Jan. 14, 2016.
If Jones keeps his nose clean until that date and follows the conditions of the deferral — which include no use of alcohol or illegal drugs — the state agreed to drop both charges. If, however, Jones commits another crime or is found to have drunk alcohol or used drugs, he will be sentenced under his guilty plea.
Jones and his attorney, Rep. Mark Dion, D-Portland, said Thursday that they were happy with the deal.
“I’m satisfied with the result, and I think it’s an appropriate outcome. I’m looking forward to putting this behind me and returning to private life, getting on with my life,” Jones said.
Jones continued his re-election campaign after the charges were filed in September, but lost to his Republican opponent, MaryAnn Kinney of Knox.
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