Lawrence School Committee member arrested

LAWRENCE | Newly-elected School Committee member James Stokes was arrested by federal agents at 6:30 a.m. today at Top Donut on Route 114 in South Lawrence.
Published: January 09, 2008 09:49 am

The charges are still unclear.

Stoke is expected to be arraigned in U.S. District Court in Boston today.

Stokes, 65, of 103 Boxford St., has been accused of lying about his military service. City Veterans Service Director Francisco Urena has said Stokes' discharge record, on file at City Hall, is a forgery littered with errors and inconsistencies. Neither the Marine Corps nor the National Personnel Record Center have any record of Stokes having served in the military.

Stokes beat incumbent Greg Morris for the District F school seat in November. He came under fire soon after, when he was denied the opportunity to play Santa Claus at a city holiday celebration. Stokes was sworn into office Monday at the City Clerk's Office.

For more information and photos of Stokes' arrest, check back here at eagletribune.com or tomorrow's print edition of The Eagle-Tribune.