DECATUR -- A state ethics panel on Friday fined DeKalb County Chief Executive Officer Vernon Jones for accepting illegal campaign contributions even as he fended off allegations of sexually assaulting a woman.

The State Ethics Commission levied the $7,500 fine because Jones accepted at least 19 contributions in excess of the $1,000-per-election limit. He also accepted contributions for a runoff campaign, which never happened. The excess contributions have been returned.

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Jones apologized to the five-member commission, noting that campaign finance laws changed between his first election and his re-election last year.

"There were some situations where we made some mistakes ... and I take full responsibility for that," he said.

The Ethics Commission dismissed another complaint against Jones, that a county Web site contained a link to his campaign Web site. Commissioners said that all involved called the link an accident and that Jones directed it to be immediately removed when he discovered it.

While the state ethics probe has apparently been resolved, Jones is still beset by allegations that he raped a woman in December.

Despite repeated questioning Thursday night by Channel 2 Action News, Jones referred all questions to his attorney, who has steadfastly maintained the innocence of the CEO.

"My attorney is handling all questions," Jones said.

Earlier in the day, Jones spoke to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, calling the charge "nonsense" and said he learned a lot from former President Bill Clinton, who weathered charges of a sexual nature during the Monica Lewinsky scandal.

"Bill Clinton taught a lot of us that, you know, you may have distractions, but you got to go to work. He was able to compartmentalize and be able to concentrate on his work and never let anything keep him from getting up and doing the people's business," Jones told the AJC. "So I think I've demonstrated that regardless of distractions we're still pursuing our record of accomplishments."

The investigation stems from a complaint filed by a 29-year-old Lithonia woman who said Jones raped her at his south DeKalb home on the night of Dec. 28.

The woman, who has not been identified, told police about the incident, which was first reported by Channel 2 Action News, five days after the alleged attack. A second unidentified woman apparently was said to be in the house when the alleged incident occurred.

Dwight Thomas, an attorney for Jones, said any relationship between the woman and Jones was "totally voluntary, totally consensual and totally legal."

DeKalb District Attorney Gwen Keyes is handling the investigation into the allegation.

"We will handle the matter the way we would any other case that comes to us," she said.

Jones lives in a home that is on the border between Rockdale and DeKalb. The woman filed a similar complaint with Rockdale law enforcement authorities but investigators there late Thursday said they have no jurisdiction over the case.

Channel 2 Action News reporters Dale Cardwell and Tom Jones contributed to this report.