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Lenny Jones sentenced to nearly 15 years in prison

May 4, 2016
Lenny Jones

Lenny Jones

Former Arroyo Grande citizen of the year Lenny Jones received a prison sentence of 14 years and eight months on Tuesday. Jones, 65, pleaded no contest last month to several child molestation charges.

In Jan. 2015, the Arroyo Grande Chamber of Commerce honored Jones as the city’s 2014 Citizen of the Year. Jones was a realtor and an active member of various community groups.

Two months later, Jones hosted a child’s birthday party at his home. Jones molested girls ages 6, 9 and 12, as well as a 3-year-old boy, during the birthday party.

Officers arrested Jones in April 2015 on numerous charges, including kidnapping, child molestation and penetration with a foreign object.

In April 2016, Jones pleaded no contest to four counts of lewd acts with a child under 14, one count of using a minor to engage in sex acts and one misdemeanor charge of molesting or annoying a child. Prosecutors dropped several charges in exchange for Jones’ plea.

On Tuesday, Jones spoke during his sentencing hearing. He cried in court and admitted to molesting children. [KSBY]

Jones said what he did was wrong and terrible and that he felt ashamed. But, he blamed his addiction to alcohol for his behavior. Jones said he blacked out from binge drinking at the birthday party and does not remember what he did.

Authorities previously charged Jones with child molestation in 1995, but prosecutors dropped the charges after he completed two years of counseling.

Jones has remained in San Luis Obispo County Jail since his April 2015 arrest.


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Truly weird Lenny Jones get black out drunk at little kids’ birthday party?! Sad!


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Why do so many people think its ok for animals/prisoners to rape others while in prison and a horrible crime when back on the streets? Seems to me the people in prison that commit crimes need to pay for their crimes while locked up the same as when on the outside.


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If Mr. Jones is the type of character the Arroyo Grande / Grover Beach Chamber of Commerce selects as their citizen of the year, and then refuses to rescind the honor in spite of a plea deal and lengthy prison sentence, that tells us all we need to know about them.


Rather than supporting a convicted child molester they should show support for his young victims and strip him of any award.


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This topic came up during a meeting with a small business owner in AG today.

As a member, he is frustrated with current leadership, calling it “a good ‘ol boys club – more concerned with themselves than anything else.”

He pays his dues but is not a fan.


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I have heard the same talk from several small business owners, that the chamber is all about themselves and not the business community unless you are one of the chosen ones. Very much like many of the “groups” in Arroyo Grande such as the Tree Guild, Bloom and most groups that were staffed or created during Tony’s reign, they are still run by Big Tony’s gang.


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Either we know the same people, or this is a common complaint.


As for Jones, it would be nice to watch news coverage and hear he’s been stripped of the citizen of the year honor. The title should go to, and stay with those who have only done good for the community. Time for the chamber to acknowledge the harm Lenny inflicted on innocent children.


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