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Rick Lee / Office of the Mayor
Charleston, W.V., Mayor Danny Jones issued a statement saying he was "relieved" when his son was arrested on a drug charge and asked law enforcement to treat him the same as anyone else.
A West Virginia mayor issued an extraordinary statement Thursday after his son was arrested on cocaine charges, saying he was "relieved" and begging law-enforcement not to go easy on him.
"I know that the only things that might save his life are isolation and yes, incarceration," Charleston Mayor Danny Jones wrote in an email to reporters after his 23-year-old son Zachary was busted for the third time in five years.
"If in jail or prison, I know that Zac has a better chance at living than on the outside. This is because Zac is a hopeless drug addict who has broken the heart and the will of everyone and anyone who has tried to help him," the statement continued.
Jones told NBC News that it was "heartbreaking" to write those words, but he believes tough love is the only answer for his son. He said his son's mother had custody of him growing up but that he also had a close relationship with him.
Charleston, W.V., police department
Zachary Jones, son of the mayor of Charleston, W.V., was arrested Thursday on a drug charge. His father said he was relieved and thinks jail will save his life.
"I've done everything a parent could do to try and help him," he said. "He's been detoxed at least a half-dozen times and I paid to put him through rehab twice."
Charleston police confirmed that Zachary Jones was arrested for driving under the influence in 2008, pleaded guilty and was fined $100. He was arrested for heroin possession in 2011; the case was dismissed after he completed rehab and agreed to enter the military, which he failed to do, his lawyer said.
On Thursday morning, police conducting a traffic stop arrested Jones, along with a 24-year-old Detroit man, and charged both with possession of an ounce of cocaine with intent to deliver, according to the criminal complaint.
The young man is being held in the local jail in lieu of $25,000 bond.
William Forbes, an attorney who represented the son in the heroin case and was retained again Thursday, said his client told him "he loves his father and understands" why he made the statement.
“He’s a really, really nice kid with a really bad addiction problem,” Forbes said, adding that he counseled his client to stay in jail for the moment. “The mayor loves in his son very much.”
When the younger Jones was escorted by officers out of the police station, his father, the assistant mayor and the police chief stood in a line and stared at him.
"I could tell from his body language -- he hung his head and kind of shook his head -- that he was maybe embarrassed," said Police Chief Brent Webster.
Webster said the mayor had spoken to him in the past about his son's drug problem.
"He's told me, 'I don't want to get a call at two in the morning that he's been killed. I'd rather hear he's in jail," the police chief said.
The mayor said that in 2011, a friend bailed his son out of jail. He hopes that doesn't happen this time.
"I plead with those in the law-enforcement, judicial and jail and prison system to treat my son no better or worse than any other defendant," he said in his statement. "My son does not need anyone to save him from taking this life-saving fall."
The mayor, who said he has been sober for 19 years, said he hopes his statement will be a "moment of clarity" for his son and inspire other parents facing a similar situation to take action.
He said he also wanted to make it clear that he has never tried to use his position to get his son off the hook.
Asked whether some people might find his comments harsh, he said, "I don't care. Anybody who thinks it's really harsh hasn't dealt with this on a personal basis."
"I think the only place that's safe for him is jail, and I'm sorry to say it," he added.
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Come on Mayor, your son doesn't need jail he needs love and support. Also a drug treatment center not jail. Jail only makes you more of a criminal.
Obviously, this man loves his son. With addicts, endless love and support can just enable them to continue to be addicts. Unfortunately, they have to truly hit bottom to have any chance of recovery.
I wish this man, his son and the family the very best. Addiction is a terrible beast that ruins so many lives.
He's been in rehab twice. That's not working...
And his dad is trying to give him support by being there and showing his love by letting is son see the consequence of his actions. The least I can do is respect his decision.
Perfect post BlueMist. Thank you..
I dont think rock bottom is going to matter...he's made his choice, it's drugs.
I can only imagine how much financial support the mayor has given his son, enabling a very expensive drug habit...and once the kid was hooked, and the mayor cut off the money, thats when this kid became a criminal to support his habit.
I have never used coke, but I know people who have...and their stories are just crazy. Driving hrs to another city to get an 8ball, that was ridic in cost (money they didnt have) and a high that wouldnt last very long, leaving them on another drive to get more from somewhere else. That pattern literally only ends when you run out of money...or someone physically stops you from going to get more, or some tiny part of your brain says STOP STOP STOP!!!! YOU CANT DO THIS ANYMORE, TODAY.
today. tomorrow is always another story.
@Vaughn David Yeatts comment "he needs love and support. Also a drug treatment center not jail."
Ok... apparently you have never had to deal with a drug addict in the family. As someone who has seen two family members fall all the way to absolute rock bottom (because of heroin), and then get clean eventually.... love, support, and drug treatment centers don't do a damn thing to overcome serious drug addictions. Most families that fail to save loved ones do so because they buy into that BS.
What did clean up both of them? Spending several months in jail, that's what (six months for one, a year for the other). There is nothing worse then losing your freedom and being told what to do 24 hours a day. The fear of going back to jail is enough to scare most drug addicts strait.
That might not be true with everyone, especially more criminal minded drug addicts who don't fear prison... but every drug addict I know who's gotten clean did it behind bars. Why do you think most celebrities never clean up? Because they get off scott free when they get busted. They either grow out of it, or die. The one that I can think of that really turned his life around was Robert Downey Jr.... after he spent a year in jail.
You obviously have no idea what you're talking about and you have never met a drug addict. Do you know what drug addicts do with "love and support"? They steal your money and anything else they can get their hands on. If anything works to stop this guy, it will be tough love and the reality of jail. My heart breaks for the father. He is doing the right thing and the right thing is not usually the easiest thing. I'm sure the Mayor's heart is breaking and not being weak and showing his support for his son is the strongest thing he can do. I wish the family well and I hope the son gets his act together before he kills himself and hurts more people in his family.
Vaughn -
I'm sure you mean well, but your comment is obviously written by one who has never been there. I wish this mayor, his son and the rest of their family nothing but good. He is absolutely correct - this arrest may save his son's life. A similar one saved my son's life a number of years ago.
Bravo, Pam... So true, my brother seemed to get all of the love, support whatever... He was a walking mess. We were afraid, he would overdose or somebody would kill him... Well, he was busted, did time. It is still a struggle, but he is trying, with help, years later. At least he stopped using. Now, he just has to finish this trip, by stopping smoking... It is proving harder than the drug use... What a mess, I sure wish the family continue to have hope. The father is doing what he can. Now, it is up to the son, the drug addict... Sigh...
This kid has been in trouble for years. I know because I live in the area and he's always in the news with one arrest or another. His main problem is the company he keeps. The Charleston/Huntington area of West Virginia has a major problem with an influx of drug dealers from Detroit. They come down here because it's a fairly short drive and they can sell their product here for a lot more than they can in Detroit. They are so easy to pick out but unfortunately you can't pull somebody over for being black and having Michigan license plates on their Escalade sitting on 24" rims.
John S., thank you for your post. You have my sympathy and respect. It is sad but true: drug addicts can take one's love and compassion and exploit it, tugging the heartstrings of loved ones and turning their lives upside down. I cannot imagine how painful that must have been.
We had a senator running for re-election whose 21-year-old son got busted for drugs possession (I think it was heroin) during the campaign. Now, this senator was not in my party and I was voting against him, but I was simply horrified that this entitled brat could not contain his crimes until the election was past. It made big news and I am sure it was just awful for his family. His parents were loving and involved. He was just an incorrigible snot.
I should try to find out where he is now. (This Senator lost the election, by the way.) I hope that he has straightened himself out.
And yes, I am a big fan of Downey, and am so glad he dragged himself out of that abyss! It was truly heartbreaking.
@Vaugh David Yeatts
It is pretty clear you never dealt with this! I have and did have a son in jail because of drugs. Pleading, talking, loving, suggesting were all futile until he did do time. The fear of returning to jail has kept him straight ever since. That was 19 years ago!
Ha! Drug users SUCK. Selfish, thieving, layabouts - life's ALL about THEM. Lie to their families, battle with police, and make a damn nuisance out of themselves. Lock them up and let them take all the drugs they want until they're dead and out of everybody's hair. Don't spend the money keeping them in prison. If they get "clean" (ha) they're just clean punks or trash.
This man loves his son, but seems to have done everything possible to get his son off drugs.
Nothing more heartbreaking than seeing a loved one ruin their life.
I wish.
Seven years ago my youngest brother was in the throws of crack addiction. And when he wasn't doped up, he would call or come by - and he would make it quite clear he didn't want any of us meddling in his business. We knew he was using, and we put off calling the cops as we were certain he would be madder than all hell when he got out.
He pissed through $35000 in six months. We all hoped that when the money ran out that it would be over. Well, it was.
The two crack whores he was buying from really liked that money. When he quit buying from them - they figured he was buying somewhere else. So they broke into his house and found him sleeping on the sofa. When he wouldn't give them the money, they killed him.....with a phone cord wrapped around his neck. Then they beat his girlfriend's face in so bad they were only able to identify her by dental records.
Two dead. Two in jail for 35 years.
I wish.
Only 35 years? a disgrace. sorry for your loss
Your comment is interesting, jake. Please tell us all what med school you went to and where you did your psychiatric residency.
God be with you and your family, Mayor Jones.
I've said it before, haven't I amused? Private joke, she never understands me. I'll say it again, adversity strengthens, assistance weakens.
I reckon every parent wants to help his/her children. The key is to understand, that sometimes we do things to make ourselves feel better at the expense of the ones we love the most. With a brain smaller than a pea, birds are smart enough to push their babies out of the nest!
BlueMist and John,Excellent post.When my nephew was finally incarcerated at Folsom State Prison in California for meth for a year he got out,got a job and has stayed clean as a whistle for 8 years now.Prison did the trick for him. I am wishing that this mayors son gets enough jail time that he gets clean once and for all.It is heart breaking and frustrating to have an addict in a family.
Addicts, whether it's drugs, or booze or cigarettes, are only going to quit when THEY want to quit. He been through rehab, detox, etc and it hasn't worked.
I wish this man and his son the best.
A friend of mine has a step-son in the same situation. He's been in and out of Detox/rehab/jail since he was about 17. He's now 28 and still no change. It's truly sad.
Mark440,
I am truly sorry for your loss bro.
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Vaughn,
Looks to me like he "was" loved and they tried everything they could to help him out and it's not working...
The only alternative at this point,...."Jail"..... If that doesn't work, then there's a good chance that he won't live to see his 25th birthday...
That's got to be a tough call, and as a parent I really feel for him. And I give him a lot of respect for going public with those thoughts. I hope his son can turn his life around before he hurts himself seriously.
It's not as if the Dad has not tried. Good for him, I agree with his decision...
I feel for the father. My daughter is a recovering heroin addict now 5 years clean. I received one of those heart stopping phone calls in the middle of the night and thought she was dead. I said "thank god" when I heard she was in jail.
Yes it is a hard call to make,and the first thing he needs to do is to learn to love himself,it all begins with self and ends with self.
Every addict is different. Every family dynamic is different. However, if rehab fails, the prison system can be the last hope for some. My son was in and out of programs from age 14-18. He had two loving parents and a supportive extended family who did not enable or provide bail. It was after his 4th arrest for possession/sales of meth that he finally went to prison. For him, it was that rock bottom place which gave him two years to decide he didn't want to live like a loser. He regrets not going to prison the first time. He may have not wasted 13 years of his life. His 3 years clean is a miracle.
"I think the only place that's safe for him is jail, and I'm sorry to say it," he added.
Sadly, jail won't help at all. And YES, I have been there with a couple of family members, jail only made it worse for them. It is something THEY have to decide and jail just allows it to continue. Often drugs are easier to come by in jail than outside, and the pressure to use them is significantly higher.
Ourdoc,It is true that prison is an easier place to get drugs but you have to have the money or something to trade for it.The solution is to not put money on the books or send items that the incarcerated family member can trade.I knew a heroin addict whose parents sent him money.He loved going to prison because he could buy it easier in the California prison system than on the streets..He finally reached his 40's and was put on methadone.He said his parents helped him keep his addiction going.
One would think that, no only as the parent of an addict but as a mayor who has many addicts under his jurisdiction, he would take the effort to acquaint himself with the problem of addictions and the options available to deal with it. His comments clearly show no knowledge of the illness his son has.
Are you kidding? Your comments clearly show you have no knowledge of the illness the son has. What a sanctimonious statement you have made. I'm sure you think you're smart, but you are obviously ignorant of drug addiction and didn't read the article of how many times they tried rehab. I hope that drug addiction never affects your family, but you wouldn't be so sure of yourself if it did. Don't be so cocky, it's quite unflattering.
Unless you have tried to "love" an addict out of thier addiction, you can never understand the pain, anguish, and division it causes to a family.
The mayor is stopping a vicious cycle before it grows into something unmanagable for his family. It's a sad and difficult decision, for sure, but sends a message to the son HE will have to make the decision to get well.
Best of luck to him, his family, and his son.
Best wishes to the son, kudos to the father. You can only prop people up for so long before they have to heal themselves.
Also nice to see a an elected official not using his position to get preferential treatment for himself or his family.
This father is obviously doing this out of love - tough love but genuine love. To those who have never been or lived with an addict it seems like totally the wrong direction maybe, but for those that have first-hand knowledge it is obvious that this father gets it. Most parents these days just enable and love their kids literally to death - this father has chosen to try to give his son life. He will hate his father now and say that he has betrayed him, but if/once he comes clean he will hopefully realize the true gift his father gave him.
When at the end of the road we find that we can no longer function as human beings, either with or without drugs, we all face the same dilemma.
Spending time behind bars could turn out to be a blessing in disguise for this young man. People don't seek out help for drug addiction when everything's going well. Those who succeed at overcoming addiction are most often those who arrive at the end of their road in desperation. For many, finding themselves locked behind bars can be that turning point in their life.
Applause to Mayor Jones for not being an enabler, and for recognizing and understanding that jail is a better place for his son than for him to be six feet under. And best wishes to Zachary. There is a better way of life out there waiting for him when he's ready to give up that old life.
It's Obama's fault!
Richy, your comment was neither funny nor warrented. There are other articles you can spread your disease.
I empathize with the Mayor.
Our son was in a very similar situation. He joined the Marines and served his four years. Now he is a college student rebuilding his life. The most disappointing part of the story is the Mayor's son had the military out and for some reason did not take it. It truly worked for us. Our son came back after serving in Afghanistan and the Mediterean, a new man; much clearer in his thinking and much more principled that when he went in. i truly believe that the military experience should be a mandatory one for all graduating high schoolers, or some national service corps. Our kids need to have some real world time and experience BEFORE they go on to college or other endeavors. then they will have a much better perspective on life. May God bless you and your son, Mayor Jones.
Jail and imprisonment is not the solution for drugs and the problems it causes, it is not the cure for his son/daughter or anyone else son/daughter.
There has to be intervention programs, after care programs, educational programs and people who care to make the difference in someones life.
When you are young you do not want to go to jail no one wants to be locked in a cage like an animal, but jail will not cure the addiction or remedy drug problems for the most part, we have seen this time and time again.
You can not punish people because they have an addiction problem, you have to help them, you have to exhaust every measure of prevention and intervention, you have to continue to love them and help them seek out help. Mr. Mayor you are not in this alone, Americans struggle with you and your son to over come this.
It sounds like the dad has tried other programs:
"He's been detoxed at least a half-dozen times and I paid to put him through rehab twice."
What else can he do? When people refuse other help, jail is the only answer to protect the rest of us. I don't want his type on the street, selling drugs to kids or thieving to support his habit. I think the mayor is correct in his action.
I think ryiann is right: jail is not the answer. It may have worked for some. But, now they have a criminal record that will follow them the rest of their lives. I wonder what the success rate is incarcerated addicts that turned their lives around and didn't eventually go back to their addiction.
I think more needs to be done at the rehab level. Maybe increase the amount of time people need to stay in rehab. Maybe life in rehab can be "like" a prison but without the criminal element or a criminal record. Maybe expand the support network for recovering addicts so the support doesn't just disappear once they get out of rehab.
My goal is to take the criminality out of drug addiction. Many addicts won't seek help for fear of criminal prosecution. I just don't think locking a human being up like an animal and using fear as a motivator to beat an addiction. The addiction will all ways be there. We need to find the root cause of the addiction which could be many many things. Depression is so prevalent in our society it's no wonder many people succumb to drug addiction. I think these people will need help for the rest of their lives because they can fall off the wagon at any time.
I also think it needs to be understood, though, that not all people who use drugs need rehab. Alcohol is one of the deadliest drugs out there but just because you have a drink doesn't mean you need rehab. The same should be said for all drugs. Especially marijuana. Some people think we can have a drug free society which is logically just not a goal that can be achieved. People have been using drugs for thousands of years and that's not going to change. If a person is harming themselves or others physically or are tearing apart their lives over drug use only then should they become a candidate for drug rehab. But for those who can handle their drug use and lead normal lives leave them alone.
ryiann - I don't think you're wrong but dealing with drug addicts and alcoholics is a gut-wrenching, fear-inducing, mind-wasting and life-sucking experience. Been there, done that. At some point the other people can no longer deal with the addicts lies, threats, stealing, manipulating behavior without losing themselves in the process. The other people in an addict's life have the right to live and to succeed without the addict dragging them down. There is a time when the "others" simply have to say, they have done all they can do and they have to let go. No addict can get better unless they want to and no amount of love from other people can make the addict want to. Until the addict wants to get better, no treatement will work.
I agree that we shouldn't punish people for being addicts despite how much they punish the others in their lives, but often, "exhausting every measure of prevention and intervention" ends up destroying the rest of the family. If a family has three children and one of them is an addict, to what extent do you ignore the needs of your other children to continually save the addict? No one, no family has inexhaustable resources, neither financial nor emotional. We can't save everyone from cancer and we can't save everyone from addiction.
Fix the problem, chop off his hands ! If that dont stop him from shooting up nothing will. Tuff LOVE can't believe Daddy has not hooked the little creep up already.
You obviously don't know much about addiction. I once worked with a man you purposely chopped off part of his thumb at work to get the insurance money. Then he just bought and used drugs with 9 fingers. Addicts will use no matter what their condition until they want to stop.
Maybe he's doing drugs because he doesn't want to live in mental torment anymore. What better way to extend and worsen his inner torment than to imprison him without his pacifiers. I was tempted to feel that way about an addict I know--that I don't want to hear he's died somewhere on the street--but it turned out that was for my own comfort, not his.
The Devil Himself in powdered form.
as someone who has been in this exact situation with my own son, and who did the same thing, i applaud the mayor. i wish him and his son well. hardest decision i ever made, also smartest thing i ever did. consequences of actions have to be realized before someone can understand the full reality of their addiction
strange that it happens now since Jones has been mayor for more than several years.I grew up in charleston and it is hard to imagine his father did not bail him out on more than several occassions! Maybe this was the time that the media said enough if you want to continue your political career? after all charleston and surrounding areas are meth heaven with the outlying labs?
riff - maybe it happened "now" just because the mayor reached the end of his rope. Not everything has a nefarious, dark, evil meaning.
"A West Virginia mayor issued an extraordinary statement Thursday...."
Can someone explain to me WHY this is an 'extraordinary statement'??? People out here in the treches, out here in the 'Real World' are dealing with these kinds of realities All The Time. Icome from an average middle income family, and to date I've dealt with:
--A mom who died from an accidental overdose while trying to get clean and sober.
--a little brother who ended up living in a Men's Homeless Shelter for a year while HE got cleaned up.
--another brother who is currently homeless because of his codeine cough syrup addiction.
--friends who are a mess, and we HOPE they end up in jail so they HAVE to clean up.
This is the world now, folks. Just because it happens to a 'celebrity''s off-spring does not make it news worthy.
I think this is newsworthy because of the mayor's status.
Yes, addiction effects people from all walks of life. However, people with power and position tend to cover up issues in their families in order to maintain an unmarred facade. Hell, people from all socioeconomic backgrounds hide problems with their loved ones; no one wants to "air dirty laundry."
What Mayor Jones has done is remind us that honesty is the best policy. He let the world know that he wants to save the life of his son. Who knows? It might help. If you could, wouldn't you have used all your resources, told every media outlet and pleaded with all who would listen to save you family members and friends?
My friends from West Virginia have told me about a problem with drugs and drug dealers from Detroit coming to the state.
Old West Virginians could hardly imagine allowing an invasion from Detroit a couple generations ago.
If people are unhappy, why don't they just become alcoholics? Booze is cheaper and it is legal. Or just eat loads of comfort food, that is legal and it doesn't make you a nasty person.
Havin' a laugh, are ya homesick yank? Not funny.
ryiann, although you're right about jail not being the solution to addiction that seems to be what our society has chosen for the mentally ill--out of sight, out of mind, until the next time all hell breaks loose. I agree with the Mayor Jones that jail is the safer alternative to his son being out on the streets. The addict is in a safer place, relatively speaking, and the streets are a little safer, as well. I've been where the mayor is with one of my own kids and understand what he's saying. I didn't give up on my kid but I couldn't help him by becoming as crazy as he was, which is what would have happened if I had taken responsibility for his addiction. I wish the mayor, his family, and his son healing.
You can not punish people because they have an addiction problem, you have to help them, you have to exhaust every measure of prevention and intervention, you have to continue to love them and help them seek out help.
I applaud the mayor. By the time he wrote that statement, I am sure he "exhausted every measure" to save his son. The issue with addiction--or any other serious disease--is that no matter what someone does, you can NOT make a loved one change. We are not that powerful, no matter how much we love them.
How many times have you asked someone to stop smoking, to exercise more, to eat a healthier diet, to drive the speed limit, to stop gambling, or to stop having unprotected sex? Hmmm? You can suggest, reason, plea, beg, direct, but you can NOT make an adult do anything.
On the other hand, how much of your own life do you give up "helping" another adult? How many times can your heart be ripped out of your chest? How many times can you just be plain ripped off? When do you stop being insane, stand aside, set your boundaries, pray, and let your loved one face the consequences of his/her actions?
Those are the questions only the mayor Jones and any loved one of an addict can answer. He did in what I think is a divinely loving, responsible, and honest way. If I lived in his town, he would have my vote. The Jones family definitely has my prayers.