Actor Jeffrey Jones Arrested

[Guest Nevermortal]

L O S   A N G E L E S, Nov. 14 — Actor Jeffrey Jones, best known as the suspicious high school principal in "Ferris Bueller's Day Off," was arrested Thursday for allegedly having sex with a 17-year-old boy and possessing child pornography, authorities said.

 

Jones, 56, surrendered and was freed on $20,000 bail, said Officer Jason Lee, a police spokesman. Arraignment was scheduled for Nov. 21.

 

Jones was charged with one count each of using a minor for sex acts and possession of child pornography, said District Attorney's spokeswoman Sandi Gibbons. She said the alleged victim was a 17-year-old boy.

 

Police began investigating Jones last November after a minor came forward and "alleged criminal acts of a sexual nature," Lee said.

 

Investigators subsequently searched Jones' home and seized "numerous items of evidence," Lee said. He did not elaborate.

 

Jones could not be reached for comment. There is no listing for him in the Los Angeles area and the Screen Actors Guild did not immediately respond to a request for his agent's number.

 

A widely recognized character actor, Jones played the music-loving Emperor Joseph II in "Amadeus," the mentalist Criswell in "Ed Wood" and the father in "Beetlejuice."

 

From Ed Rooney to Satan to Child Rapist. Oi...

[Guest Incandenza]

Someone's been naughty!

[Guest notJames]

"I wouldn't trust this guy any farther than I could throw him..."

 

No wonder he wanted to catch Ferris so badly.

[Guest kkktookmybabyaway]

Wonder if he ever played a movie role of a Catholic priest?...

[Guest Lethargic]

He played Reverend Steenwyck in Sleepy Hollow and a minister in some other movie.

[Guest Ravenbomb]

oh, man. That is just...gah!

[Guest converge241]

he always seemed kind of odd

 

not in a child porn type of way but you know

 

(especially in Ravenous and Devils Advocate)

[Guest Vern Gagne]

No wonder Ferris took the day off.

[Guest 5_moves_of_doom]

Hah, I watched Ed Wood last night, too. Good actor really... but yeah, a bit strange.

[Guest MrRant]

Hah, I watched Ed Wood last night, too. Good actor really... but yeah, a bit strange.

Ferris Bueller was on today on Encore as well.

[Guest Incandenza]

Here's an update:

 

Actor Jeffrey Jones, whose roles have included the principal in ''Ferris Bueller's Day Off," was arrested Thursday on suspicion of abusing a teenage boy, Los Angeles police said.

 

He was freed on $20,000 bail and scheduled for arraignment Thursday on charges of using a minor in a sexually oriented film, a felony, and possessing child pornography, a misdemeanor, said district attorney's spokeswoman Sandi Gibbons.

 

An investigation began last November when police in Hollywood received a complaint from a minor alleging ''criminal acts of a sexual nature,'' said LAPD spokesman Don Cox. Police searched Jones' home in Los Angeles and "seized numerous items of evidence," Cox said. Detectives obtained an arrest warrant Wednesday, and Jones, 56, surrendered on Thursday.

 

Lt. Daniel Mulrenin of the LAPD's Sexually Exploited Child Unit said the incident took place last year in the Hollywood area.

 

Jones' attorney, Jeff Brodey, said his client has been cooperating with police and prosecutors since the investigation began.

 

''This is all about photos. There's not allegations of any touching or any improper acts with a minor,'' Brodey said. ''This will be resolved very quickly so he can get on with his life and get back to work.''

 

Brodey said Jones ''is a very decent guy, and his life shouldn't be ruined.''

 

Law enforcement sources said that, as part of the same investigation, search warrants were served last year at the Hollywood Hills home of actor Paul Reubens and that police seized a large erotic art collection and personal computers.

 

An attorney for Reubens said none of the items seized was anything more than erotic art. The attorney was present at the time of the search.

 

Reubens, a friend of Jones, is best known for his role as ''Pee-wee Herman.''

 

Jones has more than 50 television and movie credits, including the role of the music-loving Emperor Joseph II in "Amadeus," the mentalist Criswell in "Ed Wood" and the father in "Beetlejuice."

 

Copyright © 2002, The Los Angeles Times

[Guest Ravenbomb]

maybe for the trial they should get Judge Jeff Jones...

[Rob E Dangerously]

Is the Police's fascination with busting Celebrities a bit disturbing? I'm sure that Reubens wouldn't have been targeted if he wasn't famous. Probably the same with Rooney.

 

Who could say this would be exposed if Jones wasn't a movie star?

[Guest Incandenza]

You hear about non-famous people getting arrested for this, so I don't think it made much of a difference.

[Guest MDH257]

Now Pee Wee's been charged. Here's another update from the AP:

 

 

"A year-old pornography investigation has led to the filing of criminal charges against two Hollywood actors: Paul Reubens, best known as Pee-wee Herman, and veteran character actor Jeffrey Jones of "Ferris Bueller's Day Off." Reubens was charged with one misdemeanor count of possessing materials depicting children under the age of 18 engaged in sexual conduct, said Ana Garcia, a spokeswoman with the City Attorney's office. He surrendered to authorities Friday and was released on $20,000 bail.

 

Jones, who played the uptight principal and comic foil to Matthew Broderick in "Ferris Bueller's Day Off," was charged with hiring a 14-year-old boy to pose for sexually explicit photos — a felony — as well as misdemeanor possession of child pornography. He was freed on $20,000 bond after surrendering Thursday.

 

 

Reubens, 50, and Jones, 56, are acquaintances and both cases stem from the same police investigation, said Los Angeles County District Attorney spokeswoman Sandi Gibbons.

 

 

"Los Angeles Police Department brought us both cases at the same time in connection with an investigation," Gibbons said Friday.

 

 

Reubens could face as much as a year in jail and a $2,500 fine if convicted. If Jones is convicted, he faces up to three years in prison and would have to register as a sex offender for life.

 

 

"This is all about photos. There's no allegations of any touching or any improper acts with a minor," Jones' attorney, Jeffrey Brodey, told the Los Angeles Times. "This will be resolved very quickly so he can get on with his life and get back to work."

 

 

Brodey did not return a call from The Associated Press on Friday.

 

 

Reubens' attorney, Blair Berk, dismissed the charge against his client as "simply untrue and without merit."

 

 

"Mr. Reubens has never at any time knowingly possessed any artwork from his extensive vintage and antique art collection even remotely related to anything improper," Berk said in a statement.

 

 

Jones is to be arraigned next Thursday. Reubens' arraignment is scheduled for Dec. 19.

 

Authorities searched the homes of both men on Nov. 16, 2001, according to the offices of the district and city attorneys. The statute of limitations on the misdemeanors would have run out Saturday if charges had not been filed.

 

Reubens pleaded no contest to an indecent exposure charge in 1991 after he was arrested in Sarasota, Fla., for allegedly exposing himself in a movie theater.

 

After that plea, Reubens' long-running "Pee-wee Herman Show" was canceled and his star faded, although he has had supporting roles in a number of films since, including "Buffy the Vampire Slayer " and "Blow."

 

Jones has appeared in dozens of films, including "Amadeus," "Ed Wood" and "Beetlejuice."

[Guest kingkamala]

Woah Pee Wee Herman is 50, god damn now I feel old...not really but still.

[Guest kkktookmybabyaway]

Maybe those two will share a cell...

[Guest Nevermortal]

NOT PEE WEE AGAIN!!!! NOOO!

[Guest Anglesault]

I always suspected Pee Wee...

[Guest The Czech Republic]

Remember Lawler's line about Paul Reubens in Mystery Men: "Nice to see Pee-Wee Herman in the theaters again"? Ah, back when Jerry Lawler was funny.