"We think the court wants to hear and have robust conversations on these issues. Contact reporter Carolyn Muyskens at cmuyskens@hollandsentinel.com and follow her on Twitter at @cjmuyskens. Koch a 1992 graduate of Michigan State received her JD from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in 1999. The defense said the emails show misconduct. Bakker, who remains on the bench, served in the role for 11 years. He was elected to a six-year term in 2020. More:Hamilton man pleads guilty to 1980 murder of Virginia woman, More:Wife: Hamilton man killed their daughter in 1989, dismembered and buried body. As the presiding officer of the court, a chief judge shall: (a) call and preside over meetings of the court; (b) appoint committees of the court; (c) initiate policies concerning the courts internal operations and its position on external matters affecting the court; (d) meet regularly with all chief judges.. 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.. Dont they have detectives with MSP anymore? Allegan County Sheriff's Office Sheriff. Dissenting Justice Michael Riordan said reasonable minds could conclude that Bakker was biased in favor of the prosecution. The victim was a student of Fields at SMC and also went to him for counseling at the Family Center in Dowagiac. 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. Ballotpedia provides comprehensive coverage of the 100 largest cities in America by population as well as mayoral, city council, and district attorney election coverage in state capitals outside of the 100 largest cities. The same date Kengis starts as a Circuit Judge. 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. ", Bakker wrote back, "One more question this victim was not referred for a medical, do you know why?". 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. 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. Allegan County Prosecutor Myrene Koch disagreed with the retrial order and said her office is considering an appeal. The two then exchanged several emails about the lack of a medical exam. Make it easy to keep up to date with more stories like this. Free viewers are required for some of the attached documents.They can be downloaded by clicking on the icons below. Services The Circuit Court Family Division provides the following services: Delinquency Proceedings Casework services -- Community Probation and Juvenile Diversion Protective Proceedings Guardianship of minors who are already under Family Court jurisdiction Judge Kengis is an Allegan Circuit judge who was assigned the case when Cass County Circuit Judge Mark Herman recused himself. She has been recognized for her volunteer work with South Haven Public Schools and the Allegan County Coordinating Council on Domestic and Sexual Violence. The incidents occurred between September 2015 and early 2018 when he perjured himself during a court hearing. Aundria Bowman's body was discovered buried on the Bowmanproperty in Hamilton in February 2020, after Dennis Bowman confessed the location of her body to his wife. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. If you would like to help our coverage scope grow, consider donating to Ballotpedia. 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. This county is outside of that coverage scope and does not receive scheduled updates. This collaboration will continue as Bakker supported Kengis decision to apply for the leadership position. 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. The Michigan Supreme Court is providing the information on this website as a public service. 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. Circuit Court Judge, Honorable Michael Buck Click here to contact our editorial staff, and click here to report an error. Bakker, who remains on the bench, served in the role for 11. They claim that Loew did not receive a fair trial. None of the communications were ever intended to influence or provide advice nor did they. This case has languished in the system for a few years and our victims deserve to have the ability to go on with their life. The sentences run concurrently. Myrene Koch will replace Robert Kengis as Allegan County Prosecuting Attorney on March 19. To learn more about judicial selection in Michigan, click here. Community Volunteer . 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. The emails were unearthed by Allegan-based attorney Michael Villar, who was challenging County Prosecutor Myrene Koch's re-election bid in summer 2020. Honorable Roberts A. Kengis . After the trooper left the witness stand, Bakker emailed Koch: This trooper didnt do a very good investigation. Koch has served as an assistant prosecutor since July of 2002, and as the Chief Assistant Prosecutor since last June. Bakker was immediately appointed chief judge and served 11 years as chief judge. Copyright 2023, Wilcox Newspapers. 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. 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 Bakker did not submit a request to be reappointed which left an opening for Kengis. Rob Kengis. Apply today! Redistricting Maps Take Affect for 2022 Elections. Dont they have detectives with MSP anymore?. Bowman, 72, is charged with her murder. Contact reporter Carolyn Muyskens at cmuyskens@hollandsentinel.com and follow her on Twitter at @cjmuyskens. Download the WZZM 13 app now. My office is contemplating an appeal. Contact her at sarah.leach@hollandsentinel.com or follow her on Twitter @SentinelLeach. 2023 www.hollandsentinel.com. Cheshire Hills Golf Course . Ballotpedia features 395,436 encyclopedic articles written and curated by our professional staff of editors, writers, and researchers. He buried Aundria's body on their property, later moving her body when the Bowmans moved from Holland to the Hamilton area shortly afterward. ALLEGAN COUNTY, MI -- Allegan County Prosecutor Rob Kengis has been appointed to a recently vacated judgeship with the Allegan County Circuit Court. The jury was thereby improperly influenced.. 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. Allegan, MI 49010, Design By Granicus - Connecting People & Government. The same date Kengis starts as a Circuit Judge. The jury found the Defendant guilty based on that evidence. Recount in Allegan County prosecutor race confirms same winner by 17 votes, Judge said man who killed 3 women should never go free but felon seeking parole after 48 years, Family of WMU student slain in 1972 awaits killers parole ruling. 2023 www.hollandsentinel.com. 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. 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. County Clerk, Judge, or Other Info: Staff: George R. Corsiglia (Chief Judge), William A. Baillargeon Hours: Open Weekdays 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM 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 113 Chestnut St. The victim was 13 at the time of the first reported assault. Subscribe:Get unlimited access to our local coverage. 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. 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. The chief judges will remain in place until the MI Supreme Court reviews applications and makes the next round of appointments in two years. .courts-header { font-size:150%;background-color:#334aab;color:white;} 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. He was convicted of five counts of criminal sexual misconduct and sentenced to at least 20 years in prison. Please enable JavaScript in your browser for a better user experience. Hours: Open Weekdays 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM She said the jury reached the decision. 13 READS: Muskegon book store asking for help to stay open, continue to promote literacy, 13 On Your Side Forecast: Fog Thursday; Snowstorm Friday. The prosecutor said the emails and information were not shared with the assistant prosecutor trying the case. 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.. Website: http://www.allegancounty.org/Government/CC/Index.asp?pt=, Staff: George R. Corsiglia (Chief Judge), William A. Baillargeon Although Koch didn't directly prosecute the case for the county, she was the supervisor of the assistant prosecutor who did. 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. Bakker also asked why the victim in the case had not been given a medical exam. 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. 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. 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. 3283 122nd Ave. ", Koch responded, "They do but not typically for CSCs. 48th Judicial Circuit Court Allegan County Circuit Court Judge Roberts Kengis was asked to disqualify himself from the case and agreed to do so in a hearing Thursday. 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 Michigan Supreme Court votes on the appointment of chief judges for Michigan courts every two years. Herman was a member of the board of directors of the counseling center where Field worked and where some of the incidents took place. 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. 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. Myrene Koch will replace Robert Kengis as Allegan County Prosecuting Attorney on March 19. Kengis was the chief prosecuting attorney when. Bowman strangled and stabbed a 25-year-old woman, Kathleen O'Brien Doyle,in her home. The people of Allegan County are served by the Michigan Third District Court of Appeals, a circuit court, district court, and probate court. 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