TRAVERSE CITY — Brad Jewett, vice chair of the Grand Traverse County Board of Commissioners, pleaded not guilty to two criminal charges during a Zoom meeting of the 86th district court Tuesday morning.
Jewett, 54, is charged with “engaging the services of a prostitute” and “use of a computer to commit a crime,” both listed as misdemeanors in the court documents.
Chief Magistrate Tammi Rodgers released Jewett on a $1,000 personal recognizance bond and ordered him not to use the internet, except for work purposes and limited personal purposes “that have nothing to do with anything unlawful.”
Rodgers set a pre-trial conference for 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 26, at the request of Michigan Assistant Attorney General Michael Frezza, who is acting as the prosecutor in this case.
Attorney Paul Jarboe, who is representing Jewett, said, “The personal recognizance bond is appropriate, given that my client has no criminal record.”
STING OPERATION
Jewett was arrested June 20 as part of a multi-jurisdictional “sting investigation” conducted by several law enforcement agencies. The sting involved a local hotel and false online advertisem*nts for sexual services using an adult-oriented website called “skipthegames.com.”
Two other men — Scott Barrett and Clayton Hall — also were arrested during the undercover sting operation. Unlike the Barrett and Hall cases, officials said the charges in Jewett’s case don’t involve minors or child abusive activity.
At the time of his arrest, Jewett was transported to the Leelanau County Jail to avoid a possible conflict of interest, since the Grand Traverse County board oversees the local sheriff’s department and prosecutor’s office.
Soon thereafter, county Prosecutor Moelle Moeggenberg referred the case to the Michigan Attorney General’s office for the same reason.
In late July, the AG’s office announced it would pursue the case rather than referring it to another jurisdiction.
If convicted, Jewett could face a maximum sentence of up to 93 days in jail and/or a $500 fine for the first count, and up to one year in jail and/or a $5,000 fine for the second count.
However, Frezza hinted during the arraignment that a plea deal may be negotiated before the case goes to trial — “to see if a resolution” may be reached. Such a plea bargain would also require court approval.
Jewett’s position as an elected county commissioner does not exempt him from prosecution or punishment, if he’s convicted, according to Attorney General Dana Nessel, who issued this statement on Tuesday:
“Public officials should be held to a higher standard, but when they stoop to committing crimes that harm their own communities, my department will seek full enforcement of the law,” Nessel said. “We remain committed to holding accountable anyone who engages in criminal conduct, regardless of their position or status.”
“Sting operations conducted by law enforcement are crucial to enforcing our human trafficking laws,” she added. “I’m grateful these resources are available throughout the State and commend the work of the Sheriff’s Departments of Grand Traverse and Genesee counties, the GHOST (Genesee Human Oppression Strike) Team, the Traverse City Police Department, the Michigan State Police, and Homeland Security Investigations.”
OTHER POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES
Fines and jail time are not the only possible consequences if Jewett is convicted.
Jewett, who is married, is co-owner of the Culver Meadows Senior Living Center at 1661 W. Silver Lake Road. According to the center’s website, Brad and Tina Jewett have owned and operated the facility for more than 30 years.
“Their dream was to have a home where people could bring their loved ones knowing that they are safe and taken care of,” the website states.
If Jewett is convicted on the charge of “engaging the services of a prostitute,” he may be ineligible to work at the senior living center, according to state law.
The Michigan Public Health Code (MCL 333.20173a) states: “A covered facility shall not employ, independently contract with, or grant clinical privileges to an individual who regularly has direct access to or provides direct services to patients or residents in the covered facility if the individual ... has been convicted of … a misdemeanor involving criminal sexual conduct.” (https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=mcl-333-20173a.)
But whether that clause in the law would apply to Jewett, if convicted, is uncertain. A plea bargain, if approved by the court, could reduce the charges to a level that would remove this possible repercussion.
As far as the Sex Offender Registry, a first offense for soliciting prostitution in Michigan does not generally require registration as a sex offender, legal sources said.
However, a person convicted of soliciting a person under the age of 18 would be required to register as a sex offender, according to attorney Derrick George, who specializes in defending against sex charges.
ADULT WEBSITE
This sting operation in Grand Traverse County used false advertisem*nts for sexual services on an adult-oriented website called “skipthegames.com.”
That website, which is registered in the Netherlands and ostensibly based in Europe, claims to offer “the world’s largest listing of independent escorts, agency escorts and other adult service providers,” including “opportunities” in Northern Michigan.
During Tuesday’s arraignment, Rodgers ordered Jewett not to contact anyone via phone or internet on the site, which she called “a website for meeting people who are not your wife.”
She also forbade him from visiting any website on the so-called “dark web,” a hidden collection of internet sites that are only accessible by a specialized web browser. (It should be noted that skipthegames.com is not on the dark web and does not require any advanced browser skills to use it.)
Since 2018, law enforcement officials in multiple states have used the website to conduct sting operations against both prostitution clients and pimps, among others. Typically, an ad is posted on the site, including sometimes salacious photos, along with an invitation to call for a “meet up.”
Clients who call are then instructed to meet at a local hotel for sexual services, which are either overtly suggested or implied. In a sting operation, the prospective client is then arrested at the hotel.
UPCOMING ELECTION
Jewett, a Republican, won the Aug. 6 primary election and will face Democrat Fern Spence in the Nov. 5 general election.
Known as a staunch conservative, Jewett is now serving his third term representing District 4 (primarily Garfield Township) on the county board. He grew up in Mesick and has lived in Grand Traverse County for the last 33 years.
In addition to the county board, Jewett serves on the BATA board, emergency management committee, Grand Traverse central dispatch policy board, local planning committee and the Traverse Transportation Coordinating Initiative.
Spence holds a master’s degree in urban and regional planning from Michigan State University. In addition to her business career, she worked as a transportation planner at the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT).
As the co-chair of Garfield Township Parks and Recreation Commission and a member of the Zoning Board of Appeals, Spence has been actively involved in a variety of township matters. She ran unopposed in the Aug. 6 Democratic primary.
