Mayoral hopeful says he’s learned from his mistakes

IDAHO FALLS – A 23-year-old candidate for mayor of one of Idaho’s largest cities has spent time in jail and since 2002 has been convicted of giving false information to a police officer, altering a check he cashed and stealing gas – twice.

“Everybody makes mistakes when they’re younger … and I have rectified the situation,” Josh Hess, who’s running for mayor of Idaho Falls, told the Post Register newspaper. “I have paid my debt to society.”

In April 2002, Idaho Falls police cited Hess with two counts of petit theft after he left a filling station without paying for gas in two instances. He served 12 days in jail and paid $627 in fines and court costs, according to court records.

In October 2002, Hess was initially charged with felony forgery after police investigated a complaint from a couple who said Hess had altered a check they wrote to him as a gratuity for photographing their wedding to read $70 instead of $20.

He pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of petit theft, paid the couple $275 in restitution and was fined $400.

In 2003, while Hess was on probation from that conviction, a warrant was issued for his arrest after he failed to report his address to his probation officer. When police contacted Hess, he gave a fictitious name and said he did not have identification. When an officer asked to see the wallet in his pocket, Hess acknowledged who he was.

He was cited for giving false information to a police officer and eventually served 170 days in jail.

Belinda Howell, whose parents hired Hess to photograph her wedding, said she doesn’t believe Hess is fit to be mayor of Idaho Falls, which has more than 50,000 residents.

“I just would be afraid to see him in charge with so many responsibilities,” she said. “He’s just not trustworthy to me. This happened just a few years ago.”

But Hess said his experiences would motivate him to push for greater city-sponsored youth programs.