Convicted minister seeks to withdraw plea

NORWALK, Ohio (AP) — A minister convicted of a child sex charge 11 years ago wants to withdraw his plea, his attorney said.

Clifton Jones Sr., a registered sex offender and bishop of Agape Love Ministries in Sandusky, entered an Alford plea, which means he did not admit committing a crime but conceded prosecutors had enough evidence to convict him.

The case against Jones, now 51, involved a 1995 incident in which a 15-year-old girl told police she had consensual oral sex with the pastor in a Norwalk hotel room. He was convicted of attempted corruption of a minor.

But there were problems with the case, including prosecutors who failed to present the court with a sworn statement by the girl, according to a motion filed Friday in Huron County Common Pleas Court.

“At this time... after prayer and much consideration, he continues to maintain his innocence,” said his attorney, Gaye Harris-Miles.

A message seeking comment was left Monday after business hours at the Huron County prosecutor’s office.