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.
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