Michigan commissioner pleads guilty to hiring a prostitute

DETROIT — 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 the misdemeanor charge of engaging the services of prostitution, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced in a press release.

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

Officials said no date for sentencing has been set yet.

"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, no matter their position."

Jewett's attorney, Paul Jarboe of Traverse City, said his client "is thankful to bring this personal matter to a close and he remains an important and valuable 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's website, he was first elected to the commission in 2018. He is in his third term and serves the county's fourth district. It said he grew up in Mesick and has lived in the county for 33 years.

He won his primary in August for the commission's 4th District seat without any 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 in June began an undercover sting operation in Grand Traverse County. Under the operation, police placed ads 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 referred the case to the state Attorney General's Office for review because the investigation involved a local elected official.

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