Pubdate: Tue, 10 May 2005 Source: Tribune Review (Pittsburgh, PA) Copyright: 2005 Tribune-Review Publishing Co. Contact: http://triblive.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/460 Author: Chris Osher Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/dare.htm (D.A.R.E.) EX-POLICEMAN GETS 7.5-YEAR PRISON TERM A federal judge sentenced a former Baden police officer to 7 1/2 years in prison for enticing a 14-year-old boy to have sex with him and for possessing child pornography. Kenneth Jones, 39, a former Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) officer who gave anti-drug speeches at Baden area schools, wiped tears from his eyes Monday as he apologized to the victim's family and to his own wife and three children, ranging in age from 6 to 11. "At this point, I wish I could just take it all back," said Jones, dressed in an inmate's orange uniform. "I just want to be back with my family again." Jones, a 14-year-veteran of the Baden Police Department in Beaver County, resigned after the charges became public. Tammy Jones, his wife of more than 12 years, told U.S. District Judge David Cercone that she'll be there for her husband when he's released. "We were a Christian home, and we always put God first," she said. "Ken strayed away from God for a little bit, but he has come back to God. We have talked about how important it is to have God in our lives. I'm saying this from my heart. He has been a wonderful husband." Jones' children miss their father and at one point had even offered to pool their money to free him from custody, she said. Jones had a troubled childhood, said his cousin, Mary Kay Burgess. His father would awaken him and his siblings after a long night of drinking and then lead them in cheers and songs praising him, she said. Jones set up sexual liaisons with the boy in shopping center parking lots during the spring and summer of 2004. The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review does not identify the victims of sexual assault. "In 20 years as a judge, this is one of the most despicable and heinous offenses that I've ever seen," said Cercone, who ordered Jones to spend eight years on supervised release after prison. Cercone gave Jones credit for sparing the victim the trauma of testifying. The judge stressed that Jones likely would struggle with his compulsions after his release from prison, and told him he hopes his family will keep him from preying on young victims again. The victim's parents were too distraught to attend the sentencing, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Tina Miller. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth