The point is she tried. Field has been free on $50,000 cash or surety bond since July 2018 after being held on a higher bond for several months after his arrest in September 2017. "The recommendation was timely as Chief Judge Kengis advises the number of potential jury trials awaiting scheduling is over one hundred. SMC completed its investigation in late September 2017 when they fired Field. Koch previously told The Sentinel she never discussed the emails with Jipp. The chief judges will remain in place until the MI Supreme Court reviews applications and makes the next round of appointments in two years. Additional: Frederick Anderson (Prosecuting Attorney), Margaret Zuzich Bakker (Chief Assistant Prosecuting Attorney); Assistant Prosecuting Attorneys: Douglas E. Ketchum, Roberts A. Kengis, Steven J. Lanting, Myrene K. Koch, Daniel Norbeck, Judy H. Visit our Links Page for websites providing Employment Listings, as well as US Government holiday closings. Michigan Probate Courts, Courts in Michigan Michigan judicial elections Judicial selection in Michigan. CASSOPOLIS A former Southwestern Michigan College instructor accused of having improper relations with a student he was counseling has accepted a plea deal just days before his trial was to start. ALLEGAN Two Allegan County judges have recused themselves from hearing the case of Daniel Loew, who is asking for a new trial after emails between the judge and the Allegan County Prosecuting Attorney were released during the prosecutors re-election campaign. Download the WZZM 13 app now. She noted that he has already conducted trials in his home county during the pandemic, which should be a help as Cass County starts holding them. Koch said in an email to MLive: "While I respect Judge Baillargeon, I disagree with the basis of his decision in granting a new trial. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. She said the jury reached the decision. Loews attorneys are alleging prosecutorial misconduct occurred based on the emails, which they say they learned of in June. Apply today! This trooper has been given additional personal training since this investigation. The Michigan Supreme Court votes on the appointment of chief judges for Michigan courts every two years. Call, or visit the court's website if listed above. Make it easy to keep up to date with more stories like this. Hours: Open Weekdays 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM http://www.allegancounty.org/Government/CC/Index.asp?pt=, The Public Access to Court Records (PACER), 36th Judicial Circuit Court Van Buren County. Message to the Board of Commissioners, Prosecutor Koch, Judge Kengis, Judge Bakker, Sheriff Baker and the people who witness unconstitutional and corrupt actions in Allegan County and do nothing.. Cheshire Hills Golf Course . He obtained the emails through a Freedom of Information Act request. Judge Roberts Kengis is the new chief judge of the 48th Circuit Court in Allegan County. Contact her at sarah.leach@hollandsentinel.com or follow her on Twitter @SentinelLeach. Judge Kengis noted that Field will be sentenced before him on Friday, Sept. 10 in Cass County Circuit Court at 8:30 a.m. He was sentenced to a minimum 20 years in prison on each charge. Rick Snyder on Wednesday, Feb. 28 . Beginning January 1, 2022, Judge Roberts Kengis assumed the chief judge leadership of the 48 th Circuit Court. Koch was named to the position by Chief Circuit Judge Margaret Zuzich Bakker, on Tuesday. The case was tried by assistant prosecuting attorney Emily Jipp. Allegan County Prosecutor Myrene Koch disagreed with the retrial order and said her office is considering an appeal. ", Bakker wrote back, "One more question this victim was not referred for a medical, do you know why?". [1], If two or more candidates in a race receive the same number of votes, the election is to be decided by lot. Judge Kengis is an Allegan Circuit judge who was assigned the case when Cass County Circuit Judge Mark Herman recused himself. Contact reporter Carolyn Muyskens at cmuyskens@hollandsentinel.com and follow her on Twitter at @cjmuyskens. In a hearing Thursday, Judge Roberts Kengis alerted the attorneys tohis history with the case. Neither side objected in court to Kengis'decision to recuse himself. The status of those grievances is unknown, as the merits of Loew's appeal are still pending. More:Man wins new trial over email exchange between judge, prosecutor, More:Judges recused from hearing mans request for new trial, More:Allegan man says judge, prosecutor denied him a fair trial. Click here to contact our editorial staff, and click here to report an error. 48th Judicial Circuit Court Allegan Attorney Michael Villar, who challenged Koch for her job in the August Republican primary, uncovered the emails in a Freedom of Information Act request. Kengis replaces Judge Margaret Zuzich Bakker who had been elected to the circuit court in 2010. 13 READS: Muskegon book store asking for help to stay open, continue to promote literacy, 13 On Your Side Forecast: Fog Thursday; Snowstorm Friday. Koch and her husband married in 1993. This trooper has been given additional personal training since this investigation., Bakker then wrote: One more question..this victim was not referred for a medical, do you know why?, Koch replied a few minutes later: Yes, because the prior (assistant prosecuting attorney) assigned to the case did not catch that it was missed nor did anyone else who touched the file., Lynch said that the ex parte communication, or communication with only one side, showed bias and violated the Code of Judicial Conduct. (269) 673-0300, Honorable Roberts Kengis They began investigating and recommended she contact the sheriffs department. Dobrich said Allegan Circuit Judge Roberts Kengis will preside over the trial, which will take place in Cassopolis. He said Field will be given the opportunity to withdraw his plea if Kengis decides to sentence him to more than a year in jail or change any other terms of the agreement. Montenegro said the agreement calls for Field to be sentenced to a term of probation, a county jail sentence not to exceed one year and no requirement to register as a sex offender. Allegan, MI 49010, Design By Granicus - Connecting People & Government. Bowman strangled and stabbed a 25-year-old woman, Kathleen O'Brien Doyle,in her home. Chief Circuit Court Judge, Honorable Margaret Zuzich Bakker ALLEGAN COUNTY, MI A judge ordered a retrial for a man convicted of sexual assault because the trial judge emailed the county prosecutor who was not trying the case during proceedings. Appeals court walks back new trial for man after prosecutor, judge emailed during trial, Man wins new trial over email exchange between judge, prosecutor, Judges recused from hearing mans request for new trial, Allegan man says judge, prosecutor denied him a fair trial, Get unlimited access to our local coverage, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. 100 largest cities in America by population, United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, United States Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit, Michigan Fifty-seventh Judicial District Court, Michigan local trial court judicial elections, 2023, Michigan local trial court judicial elections, 2022, Michigan local trial court judicial elections, 2021, Michigan local trial court judicial elections, 2020, Michigan local trial court judicial elections, 2019, Michigan local trial court judicial elections, 2018, Michigan local trial court judicial elections, 2017, Michigan local trial court judicial elections, 2016, https://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php?title=Allegan_County,_Michigan_(Judicial)&oldid=7667650, Conflicts in school board elections, 2021-2022, Special Congressional elections (2023-2024), 2022 Congressional Competitiveness Report, State Executive Competitiveness Report, 2022, State Legislative Competitiveness Report, 2022, Partisanship in 2022 United States local elections. By using this website, you agree to comply with all of the terms of use . The Allegan County decisions included the new appointment of the Honorable Roberts A. Kengis as chief justice of the 48 th Circuit Court, and the chief judge reappointment of the Honorable Michael L. Buck to the Allegan County Probate Court and the Honorable Joseph S. Skocelas to the 57 th District Court. 100% remote. In the majority opinion, Murray wrote that while the appeals court recognized the communications were ex parte, such communications "between a sitting judge and a prosecutor do not warrant a new trial so long as the communications focus on administrative or procedural (i.e. Ballotpedia features 395,436 encyclopedic articles written and curated by our professional staff of editors, writers, and researchers. Koch has served as an assistant prosecutor since July of 2002, and as the Chief Assistant Prosecutor since last June. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). He was convicted of five counts of criminal sexual misconduct and sentenced to at least 20 years in prison. The incidents occurred between September 2015 and early 2018 when he perjured himself during a court hearing. All Rights Reserved. However, the Michigan Court of Appeals reversed that decision in a split 2-1 opinion in January this year. Contact reporter Carolyn Muyskens at cmuyskens@hollandsentinel.com and follow her on Twitter at @cjmuyskens. The people of Allegan County are served by the Michigan Third District Court of Appeals, a circuit court, district court, and probate court. Please enable JavaScript in your browser for a better user experience. Plaintiff Jonathan King Meyer filed a pro se complaint pursuant to 42 U.S.C. The jury found the Defendant guilty based on that evidence. The fact that the presiding judge was commenting on the quality of the investigation while the trial was underway it's inconceivable to me that that could happen," Lynch said. We routinely discuss cases with the victims, said Cass County Prosecutor Victor Fitz. Allegan County Circuit Court Judge Roberts Kengis was asked to disqualify himself from the case and agreed to do so in a hearing Thursday. Soon after election, she was appointed as chief judge, a position she has held for 11 years. Generally, ex parte communications between a judge and only one party in a legal matter are prohibited by ethics codes for judges and attorneys because they can give an unfair advantage to one side in a case. The case will be reassigned to Judge Margaret Bakker. In Allegan County, the presiding judge of the Family Court is the Honorable Michael L. Buck. *Please call to verify. ", Koch responded, "They do but not typically for CSCs. non-substantive) matters.". After the emails were discovered, Villar saidhe filed complaints against Koch and Bakker with the Michigan Judicial Tenure Commission and Attorney Grievance Commission, respectively. Contact Info (269) 673-8471 Questions & Answers Q What is the phone number for Judiciary Courts of the Stt? Bakker did not apply for reappointment in this appointment cycle, circuit court administrator Jennifer Brink said, and supported Kengis's application for chief judge in a letter to the Michigan Supreme Court. 3283 122nd Ave. 57th District Court Honorable Joseph S . Sarah Leach is editor of The Holland Sentinel. Myrene Koch will take over for current prosecutor, Roberts Kengis on March 19. Justices Christopher Murray and Jane Markey were in the majority, saying the emails didnt provide an advantage to the prosecution. She has been recognized for her volunteer work with South Haven Public Schools and the Allegan County Coordinating Council on Domestic and Sexual Violence. Kengis will continue as Prosecuting Attorney until March 19 when he starts his role as a Circuit Judge, a position he was appointed to by Governor Rick Snyder. The appointment was made by the Michigan Supreme Court after reviewing applications completed by the candidates. Contact 48th Judicial Circuit Court 113 Chestnut St. Allegan, MI 49010 (269) 673-0300 Judges Honorable Roberts Kengis Chief Circuit Court Judge Honorable Margaret Zuzich Bakker Circuit Court Judge Honorable Michael Buck Presiding Family Court Judge a murder he committed in Norfolk, Virginia, in 1980, Hamilton man pleads guilty to 1980 murder of Virginia woman, Wife: Hamilton man killed their daughter in 1989, dismembered and buried body, Receive 3 months of all-access to The Sentinel's award-winning digital coverage for $1, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. The defense has not pointed to any ruling showing the judge to be compromised or biased, she said. Allegan County Circuit Court Judge. Ms. Kochs response acknowledged the criticism and acknowledged the breakdown in procedure. The victim was 13 at the time of the first reported assault. In Wednesday's announcement, the state Supreme Court said it would hear the appeal, but would limit the scope to the ex parte communications between Bakker and Koch, whether they were administrative in nature and whether Loew is entitled to a new trial. Is any of the above incorrect? Ex parte translates from Latin to mean out of the party; in the context of the legal system, it is communication about a case between a judge and one sides attorney that occurs without the other partys counsel present. It was after his arrest in November 2019 for Doyle's murder that he began asking to speak to detectives about the circumstances of Aundria'sdeath. 113 Chestnut Street, Allegan, MI49010 113 Chestnut Street, Allegan, MI 49010 Allegan County Court System Type: Civil, General Civil - Unlimited, General Civil - Limited, Small Claims, Complex Commercial, Foreclosures and Liens, Real Estate Title and Boundary, Criminal, Mental Health Division: Contact Information: Phone Number: 269-673-0400 Fax: 269-673-0490 Its one of the most outrageous things Ive seen in my career, defense attorney Heath Lynch, a former federal prosecutor in Grand Rapids, told MLive/The Grand Rapids Press. The emails were something between idle chat and administrative communication.. Kengis was the chief prosecuting attorney when. George Field, 60, of Dowagiac, had been scheduled to face trial starting Monday in Cass County Circuit Court on 17 criminal sexual conduct, insurance fraud and perjury charges. Under the plea agreement announced by Chief Assistant Prosecutor Tiffiny Montenegro and defense attorney James Miller, Field will plead no contest to three counts of attempted aggravated indecent exposure, one count of perjury, one count of unauthorized practice of a health profession, one count of health care fraud and one count of possession of marijuana. His case was bound over for a jury trial in Allegan County's 48th Circuit Court last month. Get unlimited access to our local coverage, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Judiciary Courts of the Stt can be contacted via phone at (269) 673-8471 for pricing, hours and directions. Circuit Judge Roberts Kengis recused himself because he was the county prosecutor when charges were filed against Loew. She said the counseling took place there and the sexual relations at Fields home next door to the center. Bakker also asked why the victim in the case had not been given a medical exam. Loew's attorney, Heath Lynch, argued it's impossible to know whether Koch shared the communications with Jipp and whether trial strategy was altered due to what Bakker wrote in the emails. Dont they have detectives with MSP anymore?. He was elected to a six-year term in 2020. Villar lost the primary election in August and a recount of votes conducted last week affirmed that Koch had won re-election by 19 votes. Bakker was Allegan Countys first female circuit court judge. . .courts-header { font-size:150%;background-color:#334aab;color:white;} ALLEGAN Judge Roberts Kengis took over supervision of the 48th Circuit Court on Jan. 1 as chief judge after he was appointed by the Michigan Supreme Court to replace Judge Margaret. Let us know here, 57th District Court Allegan County113 Chestnut Street0.0 mile away, Allegan County Probate Court2243 33rd Street2.2 miles away, 36th Judicial Circuit Court Van Buren CountyCourthouse - Second Floor, 212 East Paw Paw Street12.6 miles away, 2023 Everything-Bytes | Terms of Use & Privacy Policy. Daniel Albert Loew, 26, was convicted by an Allegan County Circuit Court jury of two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct (CSC), two counts of third-degree CSC and a single count of second-degree CSC. Community Volunteer . The prosecutor said the emails and information were not shared with the assistant prosecutor trying the case. Michigan Circuit Court If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. "Since Judge Kengis was appointed, Judge Bakker and Judge Kengis have worked together on chief duties, and the two plan on continuing this practice moving forward," Brink wrote in an email. Dont they have detectives anymore?, The next morning, Koch replied: They do but not typically for CSCs. Share & Bookmark, Press Enter to show all options, press Tab go to next option, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Requests, Annual Reports and State of the County Report. 269-226-5014. craig.chindemi@ascension.org. "Whenever an issue arises or a policy decision needs to be made, Judge Bakker and Judge Kengis always discuss the matter prior to the chief making the final decision.". Kengis said during Thursdays hearing that the hearing would likely be reassigned next to a judge in Allegan Countys 57th District Court. The emails from Judge Bakker were an editorial expressing discontent with the case and as inquiry as to the breakdown in police and procedure that compromised the investigation, Schikora wrote in court documents. The plea agreement was announced Friday afternoon in a court hearing before Judge Roberts Kengis. None of the communications were ever intended to influence or provide advice nor did they. Bakker was immediately appointed chief judge and served 11 years as chief judge. Judge Bakker says, "Myrene has demonstrated an outstanding ability to represent the peoples interests in criminal prosecutions before this Court and as Chief Assistant has demonstrated strong administrative abilities that will serve her and the County of Allegan well as Prosecutor.. Copyright 2023, Wilcox Newspapers. Jim Wheat, MD. JUDGES OF MICHIGAN . The same date Kengis starts as a Circuit Judge. ALLEGAN COUNTY, MI -- Allegan County Prosecutor Rob Kengis has been appointed to a recently vacated judgeship with the Allegan County Circuit Court. Bakker, who remains on the bench, served in the role for 11. They have four children. Contact reporter Carolyn Muyskens at cmuyskens@hollandsentinel.com and follow her on Twitter at @cjmuyskens.
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