Monday, August 1, 1994

08011994 - Deputy Kenneth Norton - Terminated - St. Joseph County SD


Also See:

Deputy Kenneth Norton dismissed from St. County Sheriff Department for CSC allegations [1994]



Colon Police Chief Kenneth Norton - August 2004 CSC assault and charges








In July 1994, St. Joseph Deputy Kenneth Norton was terminated from the department after a woman made allegations that he had sexually assaulted her.









Because St. Joseph County did not file criminal charges against Deputy Norton, he wa able to obtain another position in law enforcement after he was terminated from the sheriff department. On April 15, 1995, Kenneth Norton became Chief of Police for the Colon PD.







Former police chief given probation
Saturday, October 8, 2005
Kalamazoo Gazette
http://www.mlive.com/news/kzgazette/index.ssf?/base/news-15/1128766907256390.xml&coll=7

CENTREVILLE -- Former Colon Police Chief Kenneth Norton will escape a jail sentence but must serve three years' probation for fondling a woman while he was on duty.

A Calhoun County special prosecutor credited the willingness of "several other women" to testify about their own alleged, past sexual abuse by Norton at his sentencing Friday on the fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct charge.

Norton, who pleaded guilty to fondling a 33-year-old Colon woman in her residence while he was in uniform and on duty in August 2004, was sentenced to three years' probation, avoiding serving 90 days in jail as long as he complies with the terms of his probation.

The sentence means Norton, who resigned as Colon police chief Aug. 13 following the charges, will lose his law enforcement certification and must register his whereabouts on the Michigan State Police Sexual Offender Registry. He also was ordered to pay fines and costs totaling $2,217.

Calhoun County Assistant Prosecutor Deirdre A. Ford, acting as special prosecutor, confirmed Friday that several other women contacted investigators about Norton after the Colon woman's case became public. She declined to give an exact number but said other alleged victims claimed to have had "similar experiences."

In an interview with the Kalamazoo Gazette, the victim said Ford told her that the case against Norton became stronger when additional women agreed to testify if the matter went to trial.

Shortly after the additional women came forward, Ford added two other, more serious charges to the woman's complaint that were later dropped in exchange for Norton's guilty plea.

Ford said she agreed to drop second-degree criminal-sexual conduct and felony firearms charges in exchange for Norton's plea to fourth-degree criminal-sexual conduct to save the victim from having to testify at trial.

It is the Kalamazoo Gazette's policy not to reveal the names of sexual-assault victims unless they agree to be identified. The woman declined, saying she has not disclosed what happened even to some family members.

"I'm satisfied with the sentence for this particular offense," Ford said after the proceeding. "But it's not a sentence for prior incidents."

Defense attorney J. Richard Colbeck, of Coldwater said the former police chief had begun counseling and was "well on the way to recovery."

But Ford cautioned that Norton should be under close scrutiny during his probation.

"This individual needs very, very close monitoring during the course of his probation so as not to have a repeat of this again," Ford told St. Joseph County Circuit Judge Paul Stutesman.

The Colon woman who filed the charges and another woman who made similar allegations against Norton in 1994 were both in the courtroom Friday for the sentencing.

Norton declined an opportunity to speak prior to sentencing. He responded quietly to several questions directed to him during the proceeding and left the courtroom immediately afterward without comment. Colbeck also declined comment.

Friday's sentencing means Norton must forfeit his permit to carry a concealed weapon and relinquish any firearms, including hunting rifles that Colbeck had sought unsuccessfully to allow Norton to retain. Ford said other offenders generally get no exception that allows them to hunt and argued that Norton should be treated no differently.

Norton resigned from his $60,000-a-year police chief's post Aug. 13 after the charges were filed. Prior to his 10 years as Colon's chief he was a St. Joseph County Sheriff's Department deputy for 18 years.

County records show he was suspended in July 1994, and then dismissed from the sheriff's department in August 1994, following a sexual-misconduct allegation. But a Kalamazoo County special prosecutor reviewed that case and did not issue criminal charges.

In November 1995, St. Joseph County paid Norton $5,000 to settle the grievance he had filed to get his job back and allowed him to resign.

Norton was hired as Colon's chief April 15, 1995.

In defense comments before sentencing Friday, Colbeck said publicity surrounding Norton's charges had become "a media event and beyond" and suggested that he could easily have presented "well over 100 witnesses to talk about the good (Norton) has done."

Colbeck called the incident "unfortunate, illegal and improper" and said Norton has voluntarily begun counseling and "deeply regrets" the offense.

"My client is well on the way to recovery and he offers his apologies to the victim," Colbeck said.

Ford called Norton's admission that he moved the woman's shirt to expose part of her breast and then reached inside her shirt to fondle her "particularly egregious," because he was on duty as a police officer and Colon's police chief at the time of the incident.

                     


Saturday, July 2, 1994

07021994 - Deputy Kenneth Norton - Suspended - St. Joseph County SD


Also See:

Deputy Kenneth Norton dismissed from St. County Sheriff Department for CSC allegations [1994]



Colon Police Chief Kenneth Norton - August 2004 CSC assault and charges








In July 1994, St. Joseph Deputy Kenneth Norton was suspended from the department after a woman made allegations that he had sexually assaulted her.







Former police chief given probation
Saturday, October 8, 2005
Kalamazoo Gazette
http://www.mlive.com/news/kzgazette/index.ssf?/base/news-15/1128766907256390.xml&coll=7

CENTREVILLE -- Former Colon Police Chief Kenneth Norton will escape a jail sentence but must serve three years' probation for fondling a woman while he was on duty.

A Calhoun County special prosecutor credited the willingness of "several other women" to testify about their own alleged, past sexual abuse by Norton at his sentencing Friday on the fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct charge.

Norton, who pleaded guilty to fondling a 33-year-old Colon woman in her residence while he was in uniform and on duty in August 2004, was sentenced to three years' probation, avoiding serving 90 days in jail as long as he complies with the terms of his probation.

The sentence means Norton, who resigned as Colon police chief Aug. 13 following the charges, will lose his law enforcement certification and must register his whereabouts on the Michigan State Police Sexual Offender Registry. He also was ordered to pay fines and costs totaling $2,217.

Calhoun County Assistant Prosecutor Deirdre A. Ford, acting as special prosecutor, confirmed Friday that several other women contacted investigators about Norton after the Colon woman's case became public. She declined to give an exact number but said other alleged victims claimed to have had "similar experiences."

In an interview with the Kalamazoo Gazette, the victim said Ford told her that the case against Norton became stronger when additional women agreed to testify if the matter went to trial.

Shortly after the additional women came forward, Ford added two other, more serious charges to the woman's complaint that were later dropped in exchange for Norton's guilty plea.

Ford said she agreed to drop second-degree criminal-sexual conduct and felony firearms charges in exchange for Norton's plea to fourth-degree criminal-sexual conduct to save the victim from having to testify at trial.

It is the Kalamazoo Gazette's policy not to reveal the names of sexual-assault victims unless they agree to be identified. The woman declined, saying she has not disclosed what happened even to some family members.

"I'm satisfied with the sentence for this particular offense," Ford said after the proceeding. "But it's not a sentence for prior incidents."

Defense attorney J. Richard Colbeck, of Coldwater said the former police chief had begun counseling and was "well on the way to recovery."

But Ford cautioned that Norton should be under close scrutiny during his probation.

"This individual needs very, very close monitoring during the course of his probation so as not to have a repeat of this again," Ford told St. Joseph County Circuit Judge Paul Stutesman.

The Colon woman who filed the charges and another woman who made similar allegations against Norton in 1994 were both in the courtroom Friday for the sentencing.

Norton declined an opportunity to speak prior to sentencing. He responded quietly to several questions directed to him during the proceeding and left the courtroom immediately afterward without comment. Colbeck also declined comment.

Friday's sentencing means Norton must forfeit his permit to carry a concealed weapon and relinquish any firearms, including hunting rifles that Colbeck had sought unsuccessfully to allow Norton to retain. Ford said other offenders generally get no exception that allows them to hunt and argued that Norton should be treated no differently.

Norton resigned from his $60,000-a-year police chief's post Aug. 13 after the charges were filed. Prior to his 10 years as Colon's chief he was a St. Joseph County Sheriff's Department deputy for 18 years.

County records show he was suspended in July 1994, and then dismissed from the sheriff's department in August 1994, following a sexual-misconduct allegation. But a Kalamazoo County special prosecutor reviewed that case and did not issue criminal charges.

In November 1995, St. Joseph County paid Norton $5,000 to settle the grievance he had filed to get his job back and allowed him to resign.

Norton was hired as Colon's chief April 15, 1995.

In defense comments before sentencing Friday, Colbeck said publicity surrounding Norton's charges had become "a media event and beyond" and suggested that he could easily have presented "well over 100 witnesses to talk about the good (Norton) has done."

Colbeck called the incident "unfortunate, illegal and improper" and said Norton has voluntarily begun counseling and "deeply regrets" the offense.

"My client is well on the way to recovery and he offers his apologies to the victim," Colbeck said.

Ford called Norton's admission that he moved the woman's shirt to expose part of her breast and then reached inside her shirt to fondle her "particularly egregious," because he was on duty as a police officer and Colon's police chief at the time of the incident.

                     



Friday, July 1, 1994

07011994 - Deputy Kenneth Norton - St. Joseph County SD


Also See:


Colon Police Chief Kenneth Norton - August 2004 CSC assault and charges








In July 1994, a woman made allegations that St. Joseph Sheriff Deputy Kenneth Norton had sexually assaulted her. Criminal charges were not filed against Deputy Norton...








Former police chief given probation
Saturday, October 8, 2005
Kalamazoo Gazette
http://www.mlive.com/news/kzgazette/index.ssf?/base/news-15/1128766907256390.xml&coll=7

CENTREVILLE -- Former Colon Police Chief Kenneth Norton will escape a jail sentence but must serve three years' probation for fondling a woman while he was on duty.

A Calhoun County special prosecutor credited the willingness of "several other women" to testify about their own alleged, past sexual abuse by Norton at his sentencing Friday on the fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct charge.

Norton, who pleaded guilty to fondling a 33-year-old Colon woman in her residence while he was in uniform and on duty in August 2004, was sentenced to three years' probation, avoiding serving 90 days in jail as long as he complies with the terms of his probation.

The sentence means Norton, who resigned as Colon police chief Aug. 13 following the charges, will lose his law enforcement certification and must register his whereabouts on the Michigan State Police Sexual Offender Registry. He also was ordered to pay fines and costs totaling $2,217.

Calhoun County Assistant Prosecutor Deirdre A. Ford, acting as special prosecutor, confirmed Friday that several other women contacted investigators about Norton after the Colon woman's case became public. She declined to give an exact number but said other alleged victims claimed to have had "similar experiences."

In an interview with the Kalamazoo Gazette, the victim said Ford told her that the case against Norton became stronger when additional women agreed to testify if the matter went to trial.

Shortly after the additional women came forward, Ford added two other, more serious charges to the woman's complaint that were later dropped in exchange for Norton's guilty plea.

Ford said she agreed to drop second-degree criminal-sexual conduct and felony firearms charges in exchange for Norton's plea to fourth-degree criminal-sexual conduct to save the victim from having to testify at trial.

It is the Kalamazoo Gazette's policy not to reveal the names of sexual-assault victims unless they agree to be identified. The woman declined, saying she has not disclosed what happened even to some family members.

"I'm satisfied with the sentence for this particular offense," Ford said after the proceeding. "But it's not a sentence for prior incidents."

Defense attorney J. Richard Colbeck, of Coldwater said the former police chief had begun counseling and was "well on the way to recovery."

But Ford cautioned that Norton should be under close scrutiny during his probation.

"This individual needs very, very close monitoring during the course of his probation so as not to have a repeat of this again," Ford told St. Joseph County Circuit Judge Paul Stutesman.

The Colon woman who filed the charges and another woman who made similar allegations against Norton in 1994 were both in the courtroom Friday for the sentencing.

Norton declined an opportunity to speak prior to sentencing. He responded quietly to several questions directed to him during the proceeding and left the courtroom immediately afterward without comment. Colbeck also declined comment.

Friday's sentencing means Norton must forfeit his permit to carry a concealed weapon and relinquish any firearms, including hunting rifles that Colbeck had sought unsuccessfully to allow Norton to retain. Ford said other offenders generally get no exception that allows them to hunt and argued that Norton should be treated no differently.

Norton resigned from his $60,000-a-year police chief's post Aug. 13 after the charges were filed. Prior to his 10 years as Colon's chief he was a St. Joseph County Sheriff's Department deputy for 18 years.

County records show he was suspended in July 1994, and then dismissed from the sheriff's department in August 1994, following a sexual-misconduct allegation. But a Kalamazoo County special prosecutor reviewed that case and did not issue criminal charges.

In November 1995, St. Joseph County paid Norton $5,000 to settle the grievance he had filed to get his job back and allowed him to resign.

Norton was hired as Colon's chief April 15, 1995.

In defense comments before sentencing Friday, Colbeck said publicity surrounding Norton's charges had become "a media event and beyond" and suggested that he could easily have presented "well over 100 witnesses to talk about the good (Norton) has done."

Colbeck called the incident "unfortunate, illegal and improper" and said Norton has voluntarily begun counseling and "deeply regrets" the offense.

"My client is well on the way to recovery and he offers his apologies to the victim," Colbeck said.

Ford called Norton's admission that he moved the woman's shirt to expose part of her breast and then reached inside her shirt to fondle her "particularly egregious," because he was on duty as a police officer and Colon's police chief at the time of the incident.

                     


Thursday, February 10, 1994

02101994 - Corrections Officer Kenneth M. Norton - Sentenced For Tabatha Horn Murder















Norton convicted of murdering Tabitha
The Argus-Press
January 22, 1994
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. [AP] - a 35-year-old man was convicted Friday of second-degree murder in the suffocation of his fiancee's 3-year-old daughter.

Kenneth M. Norton Jr. faces up to life in prison for killing Tabatha Horn July 5, 1993, while her mother was hospitalized for epilepsy tests.

Prosecutors said Norton killed the girl while disciplining her, then buried her near the Vestaburg home he shared with Wendy Gokee and nine children.

He drove south to Brighton, saying he was taking the girl to visit Gokee at the University of Michigan Medical Center in Ann Arbor. He reported her kidnapped while he briefly left his car at a convenience store. Deputies found the toddler's body four days later. Norton's teenage daughter's testified to seeing Tabatha blind-folded, seated in a chair with her hands behind her back and crying the night before she was reported missing.

Norton testified he didn't kill the girl, but had buried her after finding her dead in bed. He said he feared either his 14- or 15-year-old daughter had killed her.

The Isabella County Jury began deliberating late Thursday, broke and resumed deliberations Friday. It returned a verdict at midafternoon. The jurors had been instructed they could find Norton innocent or convict him of first-degree or second-degree murder, or voluntary or involuntary manslaughter.
















Norton found guilty of killing 3-year-old
South Bend Tribune (IN)
January 23, 1994
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - A man who testified he buried his fiancée's 3-year-old child because he feared one of his daughters might have killed her was found guilty of second-degree murder Friday.

The jury deliberated about six hours over two days before finding Kenneth M. Norton Jr., 35, of Vestaburg guilty in the suffocation death of Tabatha Horn on July 5, 1993.

Norton faces a sentence of up to life in prison when he is sentenced next month by Circuit Judge Paul Chamberlain.

``He took something away from me I can't get back. He can get his freedom back,'' Tabatha's mother, Wendy Gokee , told Detroit's WDIV-TV.

``But no matter how many years go by, I can't get back what I lost,'' Gokee said.

Prosecutors alleged that Norton killed Tabatha while disciplining her, then buried her near the
Vestaburg home he shared with Gokee and nine children.

He drove south to Brighton, saying he was taking the girl to visit Gokee when she was undergoing epilepsy tests at University of Michigan Medical Center in Ann Arbor.

He reported her kidnapped after he briefly left his car at a convenience store.

Deputies found the toddler's body four days later.

Norton's teen-age daughters had testified to seeing Tabatha blindfolded, seated in a chair with her hands behind her back and crying the night before she was reported missing.

Norton testified he didn't kill the girl, but buried her after finding her dead in bed.

He said he feared either his 14-or 15-year-old daughter had killed her, but did not confront either of them about the death.

During the two-week trial, Gokee had stormed off the witness stand at one point and suffered an epileptic seizure after becoming enraged at the antics of some people in the courthouse.

The Isabella County jury had been instructed they could find Norton innocent or convict him of first-degree or second-degree murder, or voluntary or involuntary manslaughter.















Vestaburg man found guilty of suffocating his fiancée's daughter
South Bend Tribune (IN)
January 23, 1994
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - A man who testified he buried his fiancee's 3-year-old child because he feared one of his daughters might have killed her was found guilty of second-degree murder Friday.

The jury deliberated about six hours over two days before finding Kenneth M. Norton Jr., 35, of Vestaburg guilty in the suffocation death of Tabatha Horn on July 5, 1993.

Norton faces a sentence of up to life in prison when he is sentenced next month by Circuit Judge Paul Chamberlain.

``He took something away from me I can't get back. He can get his freedom back,'' Tabatha's mother, Wendy Gokee , told Detroit's WDIV-TV.

``But no matter how many years go by, I can't get back what I lost,'' Gokee said.

Prosecutors alleged that Norton killed Tabatha while disciplining her, then buried her near the
Vestaburg home he shared with Gokee and nine children.

He drove south to Brighton, saying he was taking the girl to visit Gokee when she was undergoing epilepsy tests at University of Michigan Medical Center in Ann Arbor.

He reported her kidnapped after he briefly left his car at a convenience store.

Deputies found the toddler's body four days later.

Norton's teen-age daughters had testified to seeing Tabatha blindfolded, seated in a chair with her hands behind her back and crying the night before she was reported missing.

Norton testified he didn't kill the girl, but buried her after finding her dead in bed.

He said he feared either his 14-or 15-year-old daughter had killed her, but did not confront either of them about the death.

During the two-week trial, Gokee had stormed off the witness stand at one point and suffered an epileptic seizure after becoming enraged at the antics of some people in the courthouse.

The Isabella County jury had been instructed they could find Norton innocent or convict him of first-degree or second-degree murder, or voluntary or involuntary manslaughter.















Guilty
Clare Sentinel
January 25, 1994
Kenneth Norton Jr., 31, was found guilty Friday of killing 3-year-old Tabatha Horn last July. A Circuit Court jury returned a verdict of second degree murder. He will be' sentenced Feb. 10 by Isabella County Circuit Court Judge Paul Chamberlain following a pre-sentence investigation. The sentence can be any number of years up to life. The jury had the option of returning a verdict ranging from not guilty to first degree murder (premeditated), mandatory life sentence. 


















Norton, convicted of second-degree murder, paroled
The Morning Sun
Jan 09, 2013
http://www.themorningsun.com/article/MS/20130109/NEWS01/130109664



A former Isabella County man is free after serving two decades in prison for the second-degree murder of a 3-year-old girl. 

Kenneth Monroe Norton Jr., 54, was released from a prison in Muskegon County Dec. 11, after serving nearly 19 years of a 22- to 35-year sentence. 

Norton, who will be on supervised release in Muskegon County for two years, was convicted in Isabella County of killing his girlfriend’s daughter, Tabatha Horn, in July 1993. 

He was sentenced Feb. 10, 1994, four years prior to the passage of Truth in Sentencing by the Michigan Legislature, which mandates that prisoners serve maximum minimum sentences before being eligible for parole. 

Because Norton, who lived in Fremont Township at the time of the murder, was incarcerated before Truth in Sentencing, he was eligible for time off for good behavior. 

Norton was denied parole in June 2011 but served less than the maximum-minimum sentence, Michigan Department of Corrections spokesman John Cordell said. 

Former Isabella County Prosecutor Larry Burdick, who handled the murder case, contacted the Michigan Parole Board in June to comment on the “tragic and disturbing aspects of” Tabatha’s murder, and cautioned the board to “look carefully at the case and Norton’s record when reviewing the matter for parole.” 

“In the end, his release is a function of his sentence, which makes him eligible, and the parole board’s determination that he is not a risk to the public,” said Burdick, who retired in September after being prosecutor for 24 years. 

Early releases were the one of the driving forces behind the Truth in Sentencing law, Burdick said. 
An Isabella County jury found Norton guilty of second-degree murder in January 1994. 

Tabatha disappeared in July 1993; her body was found less than two miles from Norton’s home, just inside Montcalm County. 

Norton reported the girl missing July 5, 1993, telling authorities that she vanished from his car at a convenience store in Livingston County’s Brighton while the two were headed to Ann Arbor to visit Tabatha’s mother, Wendy Gokee. 

At the time of the disappearance, Norton was a corrections officer at the Carson City Correctional facility, and Gokee was in the University of Michigan Hospital undergoing tests. 

Norton told police in Brighton that he didn’t remember when he last saw Tabatha but that he was certain she started the trip with him. 

Norton’s car yielded no clues, and nobody at the convenience store saw the girl. 

Norton was arrested July 8, 1994 after police discovered her body the same day in a shallow grave. 

A woman who wanted to remain anonymous offered a tip that the girls’ body would be found in or by a green duffle bag near a wishing well, police said at the time of the investigation. 

Police followed a two-track road and discovered the grave, about 150 yards away from a wishing well, on land near County Line Road, according to previous reports. 

Tabatha’s body was identified later than night. 

Police said at the time that Norton was linked to the murder because he was the last person to see Tabatha and because there were inconsistencies in his account to police about what happened. 

Although not admissible in court, Norton also refused to take a polygraph test.