Supervisor in Lewd Act Case Quits Top Job

Under pressure from fellow supervisors, Edwin A. Jones of Thousand Oaks on Friday stepped down as chairman of the Ventura County Board of Supervisors. Jones said he would not resign from the board.

Jones, who faces misdemeanor charges of lewd conduct and indecent exposure, said in a statement that he will “continue to serve the 2nd District in a thorough and conscientious manner.”

Charges Filed

The Los Angeles city attorney’s office Thursday filed the charges against Jones in connection with an alleged incident at a Studio City motel on June 12.

Los Angeles police said Jones exposed himself in midafternoon in the motel courtyard and made a lewd gesture at a passing woman.

Jones has said it was “immoral” of him to be at the motel with a woman other than his wife, but that he “committed no crime whatsoever. . . . I wasn’t even in a position to expose myself.”

He is to be arraigned in San Fernando Municipal Court on July 19. If convicted, he could be sentenced to County Jail for up to one year and fined $1,000 on each count.

Urged to Step Down

Several supervisors had urged Jones to step down as chairman pending disposition of the charges.

“I think Ed did the right thing for himself and for the board,” said Supervisor James Dougherty of Simi Valley, vice chairman of the board who will take over as chairman.

“Removing himself somewhat from the spotlight will allow him more time to clear up his problems,” Dougherty said.

Jones has served on the board for 10 years and has been chairman since Jan. 1. The chairman is elected for a one-year term by board colleagues.

The board is next scheduled to meet Tuesday in Ventura.