The rest of the charges against Field will be dismissed including charges of criminal sexual conduct and no additional charges will be brought against him from the investigation. If you would like to help our coverage scope grow, consider donating to Ballotpedia. 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. Kengis and Bakker have worked closely together over the years when making final decisions on a variety of issues. Ballotpedia features 395,436 encyclopedic articles written and curated by our professional staff of editors, writers, and researchers. 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. He was sentenced last November to at least 20 years in prison. Please enable JavaScript in your browser for a better user experience. Allegan County, All civil cases at law over $300., Civil cases in equity., Proceedings in habeas corpus., Felonies and misdemeanors, Proceedings in quo warranto., Prohibition and certiorari cases., Appeals from magistrate court, municipal court, and administrative agenc, Phone Number: 269-673-0300 Click here to contact us for media inquiries, and please donate here to support our continued expansion. Free viewers are required for some of the attached documents.They can be downloaded by clicking on the icons below. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. 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. Make it easy to keep up to date with more stories like this. All rights reserved. Friday, Judge Kengis kept Fields bond the same. The appointment was made by the Michigan Supreme Court after reviewing applications completed by the candidates. On Jan. 1, the Michigan Supreme Court announced Judge Roberts Kengis would replace Bakker in supervising the 48th Circuit Court. Judges Elections Allegan County, Michigan Circuit Court 48th Circuit Court, Michigan Margaret Bakker (Chief judge) Kevin W. Cronin [1] District Court Michigan Fifty-seventh Judicial District Court William Baillargeon (Chief judge) Joseph S. Skocelas [2] Probate Court Allegan County Probate Court, Michigan Michael L. Buck [3] See also Contact reporter Carolyn Muyskens at cmuyskens@hollandsentinel.com and follow her on Twitter at @cjmuyskens. The defense said the emails show misconduct. The same date Kengis starts as a Circuit Judge. Gov. 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. Dont they have detectives with MSP anymore?. Michigan Court of Appeals 113 Chestnut St. Email news@wzzm13.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter. Allegan, MI 49010, Design By Granicus - Connecting People & Government. 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. The United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan has jurisdiction in Allegan County. Field was arrested in the fall of 2017. 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.. Click here to contact our editorial staff, and click here to report an error. Kengis said during Thursdays hearing that the hearing would likely be reassigned next to a judge in Allegan Countys 57th District Court. The defense has not pointed to any ruling showing the judge to be compromised or biased, she said. This collaboration will continue as Bakker supported Kengis decision to apply for the leadership position. "Maybe it wasn't the case, but it creates the appearance of coaching, or at least flagging, 'This is something you're going to need to address,' and that's my worry," Baillargeon said. AGC investigations are confidential, and investigations of the Judicial Tenure Commission only become public if the commission decides to proceed with a formal complaint against the judge, typically reserved for allegations of serious misconduct. Contact Info (269) 673-8471 Questions & Answers Q What is the phone number for Judiciary Courts of the Stt? 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. While he was a prosecutorinthe Allegan County Prosecutor's Office, he participated in discussions about the unsolved disappearance of Aundria Bowman with the Allegan County Sheriff's Office and a cold-case panel of other prosecutors and detectives in Lansing. Justices Christopher Murray and Jane Markey were in the majority, saying the emails didnt provide an advantage to the prosecution. Bakker also asked why the victim in the case had not been given a medical exam. In August 2019, Loew was convicted by a jury of multiple rapes of a relative of his wife, a girl who was 13 at the time of the first assault. Briefs in the case are expected to be filed within the coming months, at which point oral arguments will be scheduled. Field had been a popular instructor at the college before his dismissal. Dont they have detectives anymore?, The next morning, Koch replied: They do but not typically for CSCs. 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. The prosecutor said the emails and information were not shared with the assistant prosecutor trying the case. Dissenting Justice Michael Riordan said reasonable minds could conclude that Bakker was biased in favor of the prosecution. In Allegan County, the presiding judge of the Family Court is the Honorable Michael L. Buck. 13 READS: Muskegon book store asking for help to stay open, continue to promote literacy, 13 On Your Side Forecast: Fog Thursday; Snowstorm Friday. Loews attorneys are alleging prosecutorial misconduct occurred based on the emails, which they say they learned of in June. A more recent docket listing may be available from PACER . The same date Kengis starts as a Circuit Judge. 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. Kengis was the chief prosecuting attorney when. She became a judge on Jan. 1, 2010. This trooper has been given additional personal training since this investigation. 57th District Court Honorable Joseph S . 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. In a hearing Thursday, Judge Roberts Kengis alerted the. Judges Jon Van Allsburg, Mark Feyen and Bradley Knoll were reappointed to two-year terms as chief judges of Ottawa County's 20th Circuit Court, Probate Court and 58th District Court, respectively. ", Koch responded, "They do but not typically for CSCs. I will add that this case was decided by a jury based on the evidence presented in the courtroom. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Loew currently is free while awaiting the outcome of his appeal. Bakker did not submit a request to be reappointed which left an opening for Kengis. ALLEGAN The judge assigned to oversee the trial of Dennis Bowman,accused of the murder of his adopted daughter Aundria 30 years ago, has recused himself because of his past involvement in the caseas a prosecutor. [1], If two or more candidates in a race receive the same number of votes, the election is to be decided by lot. Copyright 2023, Wilcox Newspapers. Roberts Kengis Circuit Court Judge at Allegan County Government Plainwell, Michigan, United States 781 followers 500+ connections Join to connect Allegan County Government Wayne State. Jim Wheat, MD. Marcia Johnson. Bowman told detectives thaton the day he reported 14-year-old Aundria missing, March 11, 1989, he came home to find Aundria had broken into her parents' room, normally kept locked, and was getting ready to run away. Michigan District Courts The plea agreement was announced Friday afternoon in a court hearing before Judge Roberts Kengis. Contact reporter Carolyn Muyskens at cmuyskens@hollandsentinel.com and follow her on Twitter at @cjmuyskens. Villar, a private practice attorney, later lost the electionby a handful of votes. The two then exchanged several emails about the lack of a medical exam. Judiciary Courts of the Stt is located at 113 Chestnut St in Allegan, Michigan 49010. However, the Michigan Court of Appeals reversed that decision in a split 2-1 opinion in January this year. Ms. Kochs response acknowledged the criticism and acknowledged the breakdown in procedure. COURTS _____ Pursuant to MCR 7.201, IT IS ORDERED that the Honorable Elizabeth L. Gleicher is appointed as chief judge of the Court of Appealsfor the two year period - commencing . Myrene Koch will replace Robert Kengis as Allegan County Prosecuting Attorney on March 19. Allegan County Prosecutor Myrene Koch disagreed with the retrial order and said her office is considering an appeal. *Please call to verify. I did not discuss those communications with the Assistant Prosecutor trying the case. ALLEGAN - Allegan County Commission chairman James Storey points out the Allegan circuit should have a third judge position. Judiciary Courts of the Stt can be contacted via phone at (269) 673-8471 for pricing, hours and directions. 100% remote. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. 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. Jennifer Garcia. "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. Chief Circuit Court Judge, Honorable Margaret Zuzich Bakker He is being convicted of multiple sex offenses which will impact his getting teaching or counseling positions in the future., Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Pokagon Band celebrates Four Winds South Bend hotel expansion, Chamber of Commerce welcomes real estate firm to downtown Dowagiac, School safety gains, FFA students highlighted at Cassopolis Board of Education meeting, 2nd & Main coffeehouse opens in downtown Niles. Circuit Court Judge, Honorable Michael Buck Betty Kortman . All Rights Reserved. Judge Kengis relied on the testimony from the 2018 preliminary hearing in the case for his findings of fact in accepting Fields plea. The murder was onlyconnected to Bowman in 2018 when detectives used a genealogy database searchingtechnique toidentify a DNA sample from the decades-old case. After the emails were discovered, Villar saidhe filed complaints against Koch and Bakker with the Michigan Judicial Tenure Commission and Attorney Grievance Commission, respectively. My office is contemplating an appeal. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. 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. This county is outside of that coverage scope and does not receive scheduled updates. Through a Freedom of Information Act request, Villar obtained emails sent during Loews case between Koch and Bakker in which Bakker wrote to Koch regarding the police: (T)his trooper didnt do a very good investigation. .courts-header { font-size:150%;background-color:#334aab;color:white;} Allegan County Friend of the Court et al 1:2021cv00195 | US District Court for the Western District of Michigan | Justia Collet v. Allegan County Friend of the Court et al RSS Track this Docket Docket Report This docket was last retrieved on March 3, 2021. If there are more than twice the number of candidates than there are judgeships up for election, the race will appear on the primary election ballot. According to testimony from detectives, Bowman claimsthat he and Aundria physically fought and Aundria fell down the stairs, breaking herneck. 113 Chestnut Street, Allegan, MI49010 In this case, she was comfortable with the agreement. The Michigan Supreme Court is providing the information on this website as a public service. Koch a 1992 graduate of Michigan State received her JD from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in 1999. On Wednesday, Oct. 5, the high court announced it would hear arguments in the case, but limited the scope to the ramifications of discovered communications where the presiding judge overseeing Loew's initial trial was sharing her opinion of the case through emails with the head prosecutor. Cheshire Hills Golf Course . By using this website, you agree to comply with all of the terms of use . The communications provided nothing of any tactical use to the prosecution, even if Defendant had been able to show Ms. Jipp was aware of them. He was convicted of five counts of criminal sexual misconduct and sentenced to at least 20 years in prison. Penny Brown . 2023 www.hollandsentinel.com. Contact reporter Carolyn Muyskens at cmuyskens@hollandsentinel.com and follow her on Twitter at @cjmuyskens. Kengis replaces Judge Margaret Zuzich Bakker who had been elected to the circuit court in 2010. Is any of the above incorrect? . None of the communications were ever intended to influence or provide advice nor did they. Download the WZZM 13 app now. Allegan County Circuit Court Judge. Lynch said that emails obtained through the Freedom of Information Act showed improper communication between the trial judge, Margaret Zuzich-Bakker, and the prosecutor, regarding substantive matters that gave the prosecution a tactical advantage.. The victim was 13 at the time of the first reported assault. Interns wanted: Get paid to help ensure that every voter has unbiased election information. The emails between Koch and Judge Margaret Bakker showed the two discussing the case while Loew's trial was occurring in Bakker's courtroom. The case has volleyed around the higher court system after Loew's conviction in August 2019. The incidents occurred between September 2015 and early 2018 when he perjured himself during a court hearing. 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. ALLEGAN COUNTY, MI -- Allegan County Prosecutor Rob Kengis has been appointed to a recently vacated judgeship with the Allegan County Circuit Court. She said the jury reached the decision. Call, or visit the court's website if listed above. Contact her at sarah.leach@hollandsentinel.com or follow her on Twitter @SentinelLeach. Apply today! 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. The emails were made public by Villar during the 2020 Republican primary for the Allegan prosecutor post. Bowman strangled and stabbed a 25-year-old woman, Kathleen O'Brien Doyle,in her home. 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. Michigan is one of 43 states that hold elections for judicial positions. prosecutorial candidate Michael Villar accused his opponent, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. 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. To learn more about judicial selection in Michigan, click here. http://www.allegancounty.org/Government/CC/Index.asp?pt=, The Public Access to Court Records (PACER), 36th Judicial Circuit Court Van Buren County. Website if listed above is considering an appeal case for his findings of fact in accepting Fields plea contacted phone... Was made by the Michigan Supreme Court is the phone number for judiciary Courts of the Stt can contacted... 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