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SENTENCING

Ex-Menominee County deputy faces Dec. sentencing after plea deal in sex assault case

MENOMINEE, Mich. – A former sheriff’s deputy accused in the sexual assault of a teenage boy in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge. Brian W. Helfert of Menominee pleaded guilty in court Friday to attempted accosting for immoral purposes, which carries a penalty of up to two years. “I wish to plead guilty, your honor,” Helfert said in court, according to The EagleHerald in Marinette, Wisconsin. He also acknowledged “inappropriate” statements made to the teenage victim who he knew through his assignment as a Menominee County juvenile crime investigator and school resource officer. Helfert was fired from the Menominee County Sheriff’s Department in December 2019.

EX-MSU gymnastics coach sentenced to 90 days in jail for lying to police about Larry Nassar case

INGHAM COUNTY, Mich. Former Michigan State University Gymnastics Coach Kathie Klages was sentenced to 90 days in jail on Tuesday for lying to police in the Larry Nassar case. Kathie Klages, 65, was found guilty in February of a felony and a misdemeanor for denying she knew of Nassars abuse prior to 2016 when survivors started to come forward publicly. She continued to claim she didnt know anything regarding Nassars abuse of girls and young women. But two of those gymnast, who were just teens at the time, said they came to Klages pleading for help. Attorney General Dana Nessel said Klages knew about the abuse and did nothing.

Detroit rapper Obie Trice to serve 90 days in jail after shooting incident in December

NOVI, Mich. Detroit rapper Obie Trice was sentenced to 90 days in jail on Wednesday in connection with a home shooting incident in December 2019. Trice, 42, was charged in February following a shooting incident at his home in Commerce Township on Dec. 6, 2019. Trice was arrested for violating a friend of the court warrant for child support payments, with a bond of $16,900, according to jail records. A second charge of aggravated felony assault against Trice was pending at the time of his arrest, according to jail records, but was not authorized at that time. During his sentencing Wednesday Trice was credited 5 days toward his sentence at the Oakland County Jail.

Faith leaders call for Kwame Kilpatrick sentence commutation

DETROIT Another push began Friday to shorten the sentence for former Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick. Ebony Magazine gathered dozens of faith leaders from around the country and many voiced their opinions on why Kilpatrick should be released from prison. ORIGINAL STORY: Kwame Kilpatrick supporters call for sentence commutationIts been more than seven years since the former mayor was sentenced to 28 years. In 2013, Kilpatrick was convicted on 24 federal felony counts, including mail fraud, wire fraud, and racketeering. Read more: 7 years ago: Kwame Kilpatrick is convicted on 24 federal felony counts

Live today: Kwame Kilpatrick supporters call for sentence commutation

A group pushing for former Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatricks prison sentence to be commuted and debts to be forgiven is holding a virtual news conference Friday morning. Their news conference is calling for the commutation of Kilpatricks sentence and debt forgiveness for thousands of Black farmers. Heres a statement from EBONY:"Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick was sentenced to 28 years in prison in 2013. He filed another motion in 2017 to vacate his prison sentence, and that was denied by a district court judge. Read more: 7 years ago: Kwame Kilpatrick is convicted on 24 federal felony counts

Michigan man accused of spying in Russia expected to be found guilty, sent to forced labor camp

DETROIT A Michigan man arrested in Russia on suspicion of being a spy is expected to be found guilty and sent to a forced labor camp. Paul Whelan, 50, is expected to be found guilty and sentenced Monday, but his family believes thats a positive development. Hes expected to be found guilty and sent to a forced labor camp. Hes looking at 18 harsh years in a forced labor camp if prosecutors get their way. David Whelan told Local 4 from Toronto via Zoom that its better to get this part of the case out of the way.

Rochester teacher sentenced to at least 4 years in prison for sex with students

ROCHESTER, Mich. – A Rochester teacher charged with having sex with two of her high school students, and giving one of those students drugs, has been sentenced to at least 4 years (51 months) in prison. Kathryn Houghtaling, 26 at the time, was charged in Jan. 2019 with six counts of criminal sexual conduct in the second-degree. Houghtaling was a first-year teacher who taught special education at Rochester High School. The maximum sentence for the crimes is 15 years in prison, but it was not expected that she would be sentenced to serve above the minimum 51 months in prison. Sources say Houghtaling had sex with the boys at an apartment and one time in a car, while other students watched.

Metro Detroit physicians found guilty of defrauding Medicare, prescribing unnecessary opioids

WASHINGTON – Four Metro Detroit physicians were found guilty of health care fraud for their roles in a scheme to administer unnecessary back injections to patients in exchange for prescriptions of medically unnecessary opioids. “These physicians subjected patients to medically unnecessary injections to reap millions in fraudulent billings. While working at Tri-County they engaged in a scheme to defraud Medicare of over $150 million by billing for medically unnecessary facet joint injections, unnecessary urinary drug screens, home health and more. Those patients were forced to submit to unnecessary facet injections for the prescription. Officials said they provided prescriptions for narcotics, including opioids and benzodiazepines, as an incentive to patients who received the injections.