Lawrence official arrested on charge of faking military record

(George Rizer/Globe Staff)

Stokes talks to reporters after the hearing this morning.

By Jonathan Saltzman, Globe Staff

A Lawrence school committee member who is facing a charge that he faked his military record said today after an appearance in federal court that he plans to continue serving on the board.

"My thought is, I want to get back to Lawrence and I want to get back on the School Committee tomorrow night," Jim Stokes told reporters outside the courthouse.

Stokes, who was elected to the board this fall and sworn in Monday, was arrested this morning by FBI agents at a doughnut shop in Lawrence.

The charge of forging military discharge papers carries a maximum penalty of a year in prison and a $100,000 fine. US Magistrate Judge Joyce London Alexander released him on $10,000 unsecured bond.

Stokes had touted his 20 years of service in the Marine Corps as he ran for office this fall. But the military had no record of his service, city officials have said.

Stokes declined to comment on whether the charge was true, referring questions to a court-appointed public defender.

But he said he was confident he could be a role model for children in Lawrence, saying he had been involved in Toys for Tots, helped the elderly, and helped build a Marine Corps memorial in the city.

Asked whether he was concerned about possibly going to prison, he said, "Everybody's worried. ... I'm just leaving it up to the courts. Let them decide."

A criminal background check conducted when Stokes volunteered to play Santa Claus in a holiday celebration at City Hall also uncovered that Stokes had served two short jail sentences in 1964 and 1986, for larceny and forgery.

Stokes had run for a number of Lawrence offices. He notched his first victory in November, when he beat incumbent Greg Morris for a district seat.

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