A 48-year-old Clinton Township man has pleaded no contest to six counts and four criminal charges related to his impersonations of a first responder.

Jason Edward Barnes entered the pleas to all charges last week in front of Macomb County Circuit Judge James Maceroni in Mount Clemens in exchange for reduction of a fourth-habitual status to a second-habitual status, thereby lowering his maximum term when he is sentenced next month.

Barnes was charged with three counts of impersonating a firefighter or emergency medical service employee for incidents in June 2024, May 2024 and October 2023 in Clinton Township, according to court records. The charge is punishable by up to two years in prison, though the habitual status will increase to 2-½ years due to the habitual status. Fourth-habitual status would have doubled the maximum penalties.

He has a prior conviction of impersonating a police officer in 2017 in Sterling Heights, for which he was convicted in February 2019 following a trial in Macomb Circuit Court, according to court records. He was sentenced to 18 months probation, one day in jail and 360 hours of community service.

In the recent cases, he also pleaded to illegal possession of a fire logo or emblem, a 93-day misdemeanor, for the May 2024 incident and one count each of illegal possession of ammunition and a firearm by a prohibited person, each punishable by up to five years that will increase to 6-¼ years under the habitual status, for a June 19, 2024 incident, records say.

County Prosecutor Peter Lucido said impersonating a first responder “is a serious offense that undermines public trust and puts our community at risk. These roles carry tremendous responsibility and authority. Abusing that trust for personal gain or deception cannot be tolerated.”

Barnes’ behavior came to light after he arrived May 5, 2024 at the scene of a homicide with a badge and introduced himself as a fire captain where he tried to gain entry into the home as a death investigation was being conducted, prosecutors said. Barnes, who is free on a personal bond, is scheduled to be sentenced Aug. 19. The case was prosecuted by Assistant Macomb Prosecutor Dale Vande Vrede.