TRAVERSE CITY — Grand Traverse County Commissioner Brad Jewett pleaded guilty to engaging the services of a prostitute, a 93-day misdemeanor, according to the Attorney General’s Office.
A plea agreement was reached Tuesday that dropped the additional charge of using a computer to commit a crime. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
Jewett, 55, is the commission’s current vice chairman, and is finishing his third term in office.
“As this conviction demonstrates, no one is above the law,” Attorney General Dana Nessel said. “I commend the joint law enforcement task force for conducting their operation with integrity. My department will continue to hold accountable those who engage in criminal activity, no matter their position.”
On June 20, Brad Jewett was arrested in an undercover sting operation in a Grand Traverse County hotel. The Grand Traverse County Prosecutor’s office referred the matter to the Department of Attorney General, as the investigation centered on a local elected official.
Jewett pleaded not guilty to both charges on Sept. 3 in 86th District Court.
In addition to his board duties, Jewett serves on the BATA Board, Emergency Management Committee, Grand Traverse Central Dispatch Policy Board, Local Planning Committee, and the Traverse Transportation Coordination Initiative.
In last week’s election, the Republican Jewett lost his re-election bid to Democrat Fern Spence by a vote of 3,423 to 2,969, for a four-year term on Jan. 1 representing District 4, which includes most of Garfield Township and the northwest corner of Blair Township.