Smallscreen News

'American Idol' Jermaine Jones is a New Jersey wanted criminal

By April MacIntyre Mar 15, 2012, 0:44 GMT

Jones, 25, is wanted in three separate New Jersey counties for failing to appear in court on a variety of criminal charges dating back to 2006, according to court records.

"American Idol" contestant Jermaine Jones hid his extensive criminal record from FOX to be on the reality TV series.

The “American Idol” contestant has five outstanding arrest warrants in New Jersey, reported The Smoking Gun.

Jones, 25, is wanted in three separate New Jersey counties for failing to appear in court on a variety of criminal charges dating back to 2006, according to court records.

TSG reports he was recently arrested (last year) in Camden County, where he works as a vocal instructor.

The oldest warrant stems from a 2006 narcotics bust in Salem County.

In 2008 he was cited on an open container charge. In 2009 he was arrested for providing cops with a false name in Winslow Township.

According to the Smoking Gun:

"Jones's first arrest in 2011 came in March, when he provided a cop with the false name 'Joel Jones' ...and then was nabbed in late-November for again giving false information to a police officer. This time, he claimed to be "Kareem D. Watkins" in "an attempt to avoid arrest for numerous outstanding warrants for his arrest," according to a Municipal Court criminal complaint."

Jones blew off two court appearances in mid-December; the subsequent action was failure to appear warrants issued for his arrest.

In a Twitter post last night, Jones reported, “Awww I will no longer b on the show.” While he did not expound further on his departure from the Fox TV hit, he apparently has been bounced for failing to disclose his arrest history to the show’s producers.

Jones was one of the final twelve contestants.