The two then exchanged several emails about the lack of a medical exam. Allegan, MI 49010 ALLEGAN Should a criminal defendant in Allegan County get a new trial after claiming he didn't get a fair shake? Bakker, who remains on the bench, served in the role for 11. Penny Brown . 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. He was convicted of five counts of criminal sexual misconduct and sentenced to at least 20 years in prison. Get unlimited access to our local coverage, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. 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. Myrene Koch will replace Robert Kengis as Allegan County Prosecuting Attorney on March 19. The chief judge holds "administrative superintending power and control over the judges of the court and all court personnel, including the friend of the court," according to Michigan Court Rule, managing staffing, caseload, court finances, making county clerk and prosecutor's office appointments and managing assignment and reassignment of cases. In the motion for a new trial, the Defense team did not allege nor did the Judge cite any actual bias or impact on the integrity of the trial based on those communications.. Presiding Family Court Judge, Allegan County, Michigan *Not location specific. Dont they have detectives with MSP anymore?. 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. Herman was a member of the board of directors of the counseling center where Field worked and where some of the incidents took place. Jury trials routinely require two to three days to decide amidst other . The case was tried by assistant prosecuting attorney Emily Jipp. The appointment was made by the Michigan Supreme Court after reviewing applications completed by the candidates. Appeals from the Western District go to the United States Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit. Allegan, MI 49010, Design By Granicus - Connecting People & Government. 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. Kengis replaces Judge Margaret Zuzich Bakker who had been elected to the circuit court in 2010. All rights reserved. The case has volleyed around the higher court system after Loew's conviction in August 2019. Allegan County Circuit Court Judge Roberts Kengis was asked to disqualify himself from the case and agreed to do so in a hearing Thursday. Bowman, 72, is charged with her murder. In the same order appointing Kengis, the Court also reappointed Judge Michael Buck to chief probate court judge for Allegan County and Judge Joseph Skocelas to chief judge of the 57th District Court. Lynch responded: Thats not the point. 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. Judge Kengis is an Allegan Circuit judge who was assigned the case when Cass County Circuit Judge Mark Herman recused himself. In 2020, Kengis was elected to the circuit court. The half hour hearing Friday afternoon featured Field being sworn in and agreeing to the no contest pleas on the seven charges. The case likely will be heard in 2023. 48th Judicial Circuit Court Circuit Judge Roberts Kengis recused himself because he was the county prosecutor when charges were filed against Loew. He was sentenced last November to at least 20 years in prison. 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. In a process run by a county clerk, the candidates choose slips of paper from a box that say either "elected" or "not elected".[2]. Myrene Koch will replace Robert Kengis as Allegan County Prosecuting Attorney on March 19. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Allegan County Circuit Court Judge. 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. Judge Kengis noted that Field will be sentenced before him on Friday, Sept. 10 in Cass County Circuit Court at 8:30 a.m. Bowman says he hid Aundria's body in a barn on the property and called police to report that she had run away. 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 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. Villar, a private practice attorney, later lost the electionby a handful of votes. Email news@wzzm13.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter. http://www.allegancounty.org/Government/CC/Index.asp?pt=, The Public Access to Court Records (PACER), 36th Judicial Circuit Court Van Buren County. 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 The jury was thereby improperly influenced.. 2023 www.hollandsentinel.com. 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. 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. 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. Call, or visit the court's website if listed above. Redistricting Maps Take Affect for 2022 Elections. Is any of the above incorrect? The Michigan Supreme Court is providing the information on this website as a public service. SMC completed its investigation in late September 2017 when they fired Field. 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. 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. "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. 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. 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.. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Kengis was appointed to the circuit court judgeship in March 2018 by then-governor Rick Snyder after the resignation of Judge Kevin Cronin. His case was bound over for a jury trial in Allegan County's 48th Circuit Court last month. Lynch told The Sentinel on Friday the most recent decision to hear arguments indicates the high court's interest in issues it deems of "significant public concern.". Honorable Michael L. Buck . . The victim was 13 at the time of the first reported assault. ALLEGAN COUNTY, MI -- Allegan County Prosecutor Rob Kengis has been appointed to a recently vacated judgeship with the Allegan County Circuit Court. Cheshire Hills Golf Course . 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. Community Volunteer . 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. prosecutorial candidate Michael Villar accused his opponent, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. The investigation of Field began earlier that summer after the victim told college officials about Fields actions against her. Honorable Roberts A. Kengis . 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. On Jan. 1, the Michigan Supreme Court announced Judge Roberts Kengis would replace Bakker in supervising the 48th Circuit Court. Website: http://www.allegancounty.org/Government/CC/Index.asp?pt=, Staff: George R. Corsiglia (Chief Judge), William A. Baillargeon 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 In a hearing Thursday, Judge Roberts Kengis alerted the. After serving as the elected prosecuting attorney for the county, Kengis appointment to the circuit court occurred in March of 2018 by then Governor Rick Snyder when Judge Kevin Cronin resigned. This collaboration will continue as Bakker supported Kengis decision to apply for the leadership position. Allegan County Circuit Judge Margaret Zuzich-Bakker (MLive File Photo)Emil Lippe | MLive.com. Example video title will go here for this video. After the trooper left the witness stand, Bakker emailed Koch: This trooper didnt do a very good investigation. Subscribe:Get unlimited access to our local coverage. The Michigan Supreme Court will ultimately decide after agreeing to hear oral arguments in the case of Daniel Loew. They have four children. If you would like to help our coverage scope grow, consider donating to Ballotpedia. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. 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. 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.. Bakker also asked why the victim in the case had not been given a medical exam. Ascension Borgess Allegan Foundation Director . Judiciary Courts of the Stt can be contacted via phone at (269) 673-8471 for pricing, hours and directions. Koch has served as an assistant prosecutor since July of 2002, and as the Chief Assistant Prosecutor since last June. Contact reporter Carolyn Muyskens at cmuyskens@hollandsentinel.com and follow her on Twitter at @cjmuyskens. 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