Jon & Kate Plus 8 dad Jon Gosselin is admitting he "showed poor judgment" by leaving a bar at 2 a.m. with a mystery woman and without his wedding band -- while his wife Kate was across the country promoting a book.

"Like most people, I have male and female friends, and I'm not going to end my friendships just because I'm on TV," the dad of 8 tells Extra. "However, being out with them late at night showed poor judgment on my part.

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"What makes me sick is that my careless behavior has put my family in this uncomfortable position," he continues. "My family is the most important thing in my life and it kills me that these allegations have hurt them."

A clubgoer tells the newest issue of Us Weekly that Jon "could barely walk" after spending nearly three hours with a mystery woman he referred to as "babe." After being spotted by photographers, the two hastily sped off in a car without turning on the headlights.

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Jon told Us in an emailed statement that he went to Legends Lounge -- near the $1.3 million family home in Wernersville, Pennsylvania -- that night to "speak to the owner. A friend of mine wanted to check out my car, so I let her drive it to her car."

But this isn't the first time Jon has seemingly strayed.

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In February, the 32-year-old was spotted flirting with -- and even attempting to kiss -- coeds at Juniata College, multiple students confirm to Us Weekly. (He denied any wrongdoing.) He told one coed "he was getting divorced." In the May Ladies Home Journal, he says, "I always thought I would be, like, 54 years old and marry a 19-year-old or something."

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For more details on Jon's bizarre late nights out away from his family, why neighbors in town believe they may have split, how he "hates" attention from the hit show -- and the real story on their marriage once the reality TV cameras are turned off -- pick up the newest issue of Us Weekly, on stands now.