September 2012: Arrest warrants issued for Cynthia Stowe for failure to comply with terms of her DUI / DV probation: failed to provide results of breath tests, forged an Alcoholics Anonymous form and failed to call in to report.
Ex-wife of judge in trouble in Florida
BY ART BUKOWSKI
The Record-Eagle
Fri Sep 21, 2012, 08:29 PM EDT
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TRAVERSE CITY — A woman who repeatedly violated probation and bond conditions in Grand Traverse County faces more problems in Florida after local judges allowed her to move there.
Cynthia Stowe, ex-wife of Grand Traverse County Probate Judge David Stowe, was arrested in Cocoa Beach, Fla. on Sept. 6. Police there seek charges of felony child abuse and battery domestic violence, documents show, though Stowe has yet to be formally charged.
Stowe was on probation in Grand Traverse County for contempt of court and drunken diving, and Benzie Circuit Judge James M. Batzer and 86th District Judge Thomas J. Phillips, who are handling her charges, both allowed her to move to Florida in separate July hearings.
She was ordered to continue reporting by phone to probation officers here.
An arrest report from Florida indicates Stowe assaulted two victim, 17 and 18, after she drank alcohol. She was in an argument with one of the victims about her consumption of alcohol when she began the assault, police said.
Aside from her Florida troubles, both Phillips and Batzer recently signed warrants for her arrest because she failed to comply with probation terms here after she moved south.
Among other problems, Stowe failed to provide results of breath tests, forged an Alcoholics Anonymous form and failed to call in to report, 86th District Court Administrator Carol Stocking said.
Stowe assaulted her then-husband David Stowe in their Long Lake Township home in January. That case eventually was resolved in a plea deal that added one year of probation to her drunken driving arrest, though she violated bond and was charged with perjury after authorities said she lied in a bond violation hearing.
The perjury charge was dismissed when she pleaded guilty to contempt of court.
David Stowe was elected to the probate judge post in 2000, and Cynthia Stowe - known as Cynthia Curry prior to her marriage to Stowe - is a former family court employee who worked under Stowe from 2002 to 2005.
The two began a personal relationship while they both worked in the court, and David oversaw child custody matters in Cynthia's divorce case. David Stowe subsequently fired the county's family court administrator for reporting the relationship to county officials. The County later paid a $69,000 settlement to that ex-employee.
Stowe and Curry married in early 2009, and divorce this year. Stowe isn't running again for that position and will step down at the end of the year.
Local judge's wife in more trouble
June 17, 2012
The Record-Eagle
Traverse City
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Traverse City - A local judge's wife violated probation again, authorities said.
Cynthia Stowe, wife of Grand Traverse County Probate Judge David Stowe, was arraigned Thursday on a probation violation bench warrant. She is required to avoid alcohol as part of her probation, and court officials said she failed an alcohol test.
She pleaded not guilty at the arraignment and was released on bond.
Stowe is on probation for a 2011 drunk driving conviction and a May conviction for contempt of court records show. A perjury charge was dismissed when she pleaded guilty to the contempt charge. The perjury count was issued after authorities said she lied during a previous probation violation hearing. David Stowe filed for divorce in March. he is not seeking re-election.
UPDATE: Wife of Grand Traverse County Judge Violated Probation Again
Posted: Jun 15, 2012 2:33 PM CDT
Updated: Jun 22, 2012 2:34 PM CDT
9 and 10 News
http://www.9and10news.com/story/18800630/update-wife-of-grand-traverse-county-judge-violated-probation-again
Court records show, the wife of a Grand Traverse County judge has violated her probation, again.
Cynthia is probate Judge David Stowe's wife.
Court records show she failed an alcohol breath test.
She was in court for the same violation back in April.
Last summer, Stowe was arrested for drunk driving, and last month, she admitted to assaulting her husband.
She pleaded not guilty in court yesterday.
Wife of Traverse City Judge Admits to Assaulting Husband
Posted: May 15, 2012 10:24 AM CDT
Updated: May 22, 2012 10:24 AM CDT
9 and 10 News
http://www.9and10news.com/story/18424456/wife-of-traverse-city-judge-admits-to-assaulting-husband
The wife of a Grand Traverse County judge has admitted to assaulting her husband.
Court records show that Cynthia Stowe failed an alcohol breath test back in April, violating her probation.
She's the wife of Probate Judge David Stowe. Cynthia pleaded guilty to the assault to avoid a felony charge.
Last summer she was arrested for drunk driving and in January she appeared in court for assaulting her husband.
She was sentenced to 30 days in jail, she has already served 22.
She will spend a year on probation and attend a substance abuse and mental health program.
Judge's wife takes a plea deal
BY BRIAN McGILLIVARY
The Record-Eagle
Tue May 15, 2012, 07:14 AM EDT
http://record-eagle.com/local/x227513877/Judges-wife-takes-plea-deal
TRAVERSE CITY — A judge's estranged wife pleaded guilty to assault and contempt of court in a plea deal to avoid a felony perjury charge.
Cynthia Marie Stowe, 50, appeared in 86th District Court on Monday morning and initially denied any inappropriate contact with Grand Traverse County Probate Court Judge David Stowe on the January night police were called to their Long Lake Township home. She told District Judge Thomas J. Phillips her 16-year-old son was the one pushing and shoving.
Defense attorney Craig Elhart coaxed Cynthia Stowe to acknowledge there had been physical contact between her and David Stowe during the incident.
"A textbook domestic violence case," said Special Prosecutor Charles Koop of Antrim County. "She had to acknowledge her behavior. That's very important. She never acknowledged her behavior before."
She admitted to the contempt of court charge. She tested positive for alcohol while on bond from a domestic violence charge, and testified under oath she had dinner at a restaurant with her oldest son and consumed a dessert that included alcohol. The son denied he had dined with his mother and Koop obtained evidence showing she had dinner on Valentine's Day with her husband. That violated a standard bond requirement for a domestic assault case, Koop said.
Phillips sentenced Cynthia Stowe to 30 days in jail with credit for 22 days served. She also must take part in a 90-day in-patient substance abuse and mental health treatment program and a year's probation.
"I think you need help and a lot of help," Phillips said.
Koop said allowing Stowe to plead to a misdemeanor will help her receive treatment which he said would be best for her and the community.
Cynthia Stowe's bond set at $500K
BY ART BUKOWSKI
The Record-Eagle
Fri Apr 27, 2012, 07:14 AM EDT
http://record-eagle.com/local/x1914775202/Cynthia-Stowes-bond-set-at-500K
TRAVERSE CITY — A judge set a high bond for a woman charged with lying under oath.
Cynthia Marie Stowe, 50, is charged with a felony perjury count. District Judge Thomas J. Phillips set her bond at $500,000 when he arraigned her on the charge Thursday morning.
Stowe is the estranged wife of Grand Traverse County Probate Judge David Stowe. He filed for divorce in March.
Phillips said he set a high bond because he had concerns about Cynthia Stowe's history of violating bond on other criminal matters and the seriousness of the offense, among other items.
She remained in the Grand Traverse County Jail Thursday afternoon. The bond is set to be reviewed today at 8:45 a.m.
Grand Traverse Sheriff's Department investigators said Stowe lied under oath during a Feb. 22 bond violation hearing. She was out on bond after a January domestic violence arrest, and authorities said she violated bond by drinking alcohol.
She failed an alcohol test on Feb. 14, authorities said. At the bond violation hearing, she testified she was at a dinner with her son that night and failed the alcohol test because she ate a dessert containing alcohol.
Authorities later interviewed her son, who said he wasn't at the dinner. Instead, authorities found the dinner was paid for with a credit card belonging to David Stowe. The signature on the bill matched a known signature of David Stowe, court documents show.
The domestic violence charge ultimately was dismissed as part of a plea deal.
86th District Court
April 26, 2012
Leelanau News
http://www.leelanaunews.com/news/2012-04-26/Courts/86th_District_Court.html
Cynthia M. Stowe, 50, 9524 Echo Valley Dr., Traverse City — Probation violation hearing; pleaded guilty; sentenced to 90 days in jail with credit for 9 days served, balance held in abeyance; must immediately upon release from jail check into Center One and complete successfully, and then check into residential treatment and complete successfully or return to jail and wait for a bed to become available; $200 fines, $200 costs, $125 arresting agency fee.
Cynthia Stowe to be arraigned for Perjury
Charges stem from testimony at hearing
April 26, 2012
The Record-Eagle
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Traverse City - A local judge's wife faces a felony charge because investigators believe she lied under oath.
Cynthia Marie Stowe, 50, estranged wife of Grand Traverse County Probate Judge David Stowe, is charged with a felony count of perjury during court proceedings. Traverse City police arrested her Wednesday, and she is scheduled to be arraigned at 8:30 a.m. today.
The charge stems from statements she made at a Feb. 22 bond violation hearing. She was out on bond after a January domestic violence arrest, and authorities said she violated bond by drinking alcohol.
She failed an alcohol test on Feb. 14, authorities said. At the bond violation hearing, she testified she was at a dinner with her son at a restaurant at Crystal Mountain Resort & Spa in Thompsonville that night. Cynthia Stowe said at the hearing she failed the alcohol test because she ate a dessert containing alcohol.
Authorities later interviewed her son, who said she wasn't at the dinner. Instead authorities found the dinner was paid for with a credit car belonging to David Stowe. The signature on the bill matched a known signature of David Stowe, court documents show.
David Stowe declined comment when investigators tried to interview him, court documents show.
Antrim County Prosecutor Charles Koop - who is acting as special prosecutor - eventually dismissed the domestic violence charge against Cynthia Stowe in a plea deal that added one year probation to a September drunken driving conviction.
David Stowe couldn't be reached for comment late Wednesday. He filed for divorce in March.
Judge’s wife fails test, violates probation
April 19, 2012
Leelanau Enterprise
http://www.leelanaunews.com/news/2012-04-19/Courts/Judges_wife_fails_test_violates_probation.html
The wife of a Traverse City judge will appear today for a arraignment on a charge of violating probation on a drunk driving case in Leelanau County.
Cynthia Stowe turned herself in to the County Jail last week after allegedly failing an alcohol screening. The failed test would constitute a violation of the terms of her probation on a September drunk driving conviction in Leelanau County.
The Grand Traverse County woman assaulted her husband, Probate Court Judge David Stowe, in their home in January. That case was resolved through a plea agreement that added one year of probation on to her drunk driving arrest in Leelanau County.
Nineteenth Circuit Court Judge James Batzer of Benzie County held the hearing on the probation violation via telephone Friday afternoon. Batzer was appointed by the state court administrator’s office as the local judges all recused themselves because of their relationship with Judge Stowe, Magistrate Norene Kastys said.
Judge's wife arraigned on probation violation
The Record-Eagle
April 14, 2012
From staff reports
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:Pjldgm3l10AJ:record-eagle.com/local/x333969105/Judges-wife-arraigned-on-probation-violation+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us
Traverse City - A local judge's wife was arraigned on a probation violation.
Cynthia Stowe turned herself in Thursday and on Friday was arraigned in 86th District Court.
Court officials said the violation was issued because she failed an alcohol test.
Stowe, wife of Grand Traverse County Probate Judge David Stowe was on probation for a drunken driving conviction.
A probation violation hearing is set for April 19.
Judge's wife allegedly violation probation
Bench warrant issued for arrest of Cynthia Stowe
April 12, 2012
Art Bukowski
The Record-Eagle
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Traverse City - A local judge's wife might go back to jail after authorities said she violated probation.
Cynthia Stowe recently failed an alcohol screen, court officials said. Circuit Judge James Batzer on Monday issued a bench warrant for her arrest because a failed test constitutes a violation of her probation on a September drunken driving conviction.
Stowe, the wife of Grand Traverse County Probate Judge David Stowe, hadn't yet been arrested Wednesday afternoon.
Stowe assaulted her husband in their Long Lake Township home in January. That case was resolved in a plea deal that added one year probation on to her drunken driving arrest.
David Stowe was elected to the probate judge post in 200, and Cynthia Stowe - known as Cynthia Curry prior to her marriage to Stowe - is a former family court employee who worked under Stowe from 2002 to 2005.
The two began a relationship while they both worked in the court, and David oversaw child custody matters in Cynthia's divorce case. David Stowe subsequently fired the county's family court administrator for reporting the relationship to county officials. The county later paid a $69,000 settlement to that employee.
David Stowe filed for divorce on March 16, court records show. His term is up this year, and he previously said he won't run again.
Cynthia Stowe's attorney, Craig Elhart, declined comment.
Warrant out for arrest of judge's wife
April 11, 2012
The Record-Eagle
Art Bukowski
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Travese City - A judge's wife has a warrant out for her arrest after authorities said she violated probation.
Cynthia Stowe failed an alcohol screening, and a judge issued a warrant for her arrest Monday. She hadn't been arrested as of this morning. Stowe is the wife of Grand Traverse County Probate Judge David Stowe.
Stowe in August was arrested for drunken driving, and in January was arrested after she assaulted David Stowe at their home. A year of probation was added to her drunken driving conviction after the assault.
Police Have an Arrest Warrant Out for the Wife of a Grand Traverse County Judge
Posted: Apr 11, 2012 6:09 PM CDT
Updated: Apr 18, 2012 6:10 PM CDT
9 and 10 News
http://www.9and10news.com/story/17389068/police-have-an-arrest-warrant-out-for-the-wife-of-a-grand-traverse-county-judge
Police have an arrest warrant out for the wife of a Grand Traverse County judge.
Court records show Cynthia Stowe failed an alcohol breath test, violating her probation.
Cynthia is probate Judge David Stowe's wife.
Last summer, she was arrested for drunk driving, and in January, she was in court for assaulting her husband.
A judge added an additional year of probation following the attack.
Judge's wife released from jail
February 25, 2012
Brian McGillivary
The Record-Eagle
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Traverse City - Authorities dropped domestic assault charges against a local judge's wife and released her from jail after she agreed to stiffer probation requirements tied to a previous drunken-driving conviction.
Cynthia Stowe allegedly assaulted her husband, Grand Traverse County Probate Judge David Stowe, on Jan 30 at their Long Lake Township home. On Friday, she agreed to an additional year of probation in a plea agreement with Special Prosecutor Charles Koop of Antrim County.
The defendant, in the people's opinion, has an alcohol problem that was not under control," Koop said. "The family was in crisis and needed some outside help. This will be addressed by the modified probation terms."
The new probation is stiffer than what's normally meted out for a first-time domestic violence conviction, Koop said. It also includes provisions for Cynthia Stowe, 50, to undergo substance abuse and domestic violence counseling and monitoring until August 2013.
Cynthia Stowe stood in court alone on Friday, dressed in jail orange and an oversized jail coat, and dabbed at tears. She spent two days in jail because she consumed alcohol, a violation of bond conditions placed on her after the domestic violence arrest.
David Stowe, in his courtroom one floor above the courtroom where his wife appeared, did not attend the hearing.
"It's a family matter and as much as I wanted to be there, it's not something I can involve myself in as a judge," David Stowe said.
Defense attorney, Craig Elhart called the plea deal a "satisfactory resolution for everyone," and said Cynthia Stowe would return home on Friday.
David Stowe and Elhart denied an assault occurred on Jan. 30.
Koop said he believes otherwise, but said it would be difficult to prove the case because David Stowe refused to cooperate with authorities and Cynthia Stowe's 16-year-old son - who called 911 that evening to report the incident - changed his story.
"These are hard cases and I didn't do this just because she is married to a judge," Koop said.
The son called 911 that evening to report his mother was drinking heavily and hitting his stepfather, David Stowe.
"She attempted to hit me," the son told the 911 dispatcher. "I blocked, and Dave has been getting in the way and she keeps hitting him across the face, like punching him hard."
"Yeah, I just had to do this," he told the dispatcher. "This has happened way too many times and it's gone too far this time."
When David Stowe discovered his stepson called 911 and deputies were on the eay, he told the boy he was leaving the house and that the teen should, as well. The boy pleaded for David Stowe to stay, according to the 911 recording the Record-Eagle obtained through a state Freedom of Information Act request.
"You can't leave," the boy said. "You have to stay, please. I need somebody to back me up, Dave."
David Stowe agreed to remain in the house after he spoke with the dispatcher.
Sheriff's deputies reported David Stowe was bleeding from scratches on his neck, but he refused to allow officers to photograph his injuries, Koop said.
The boy changed his story in a follow-up interview that didn't occur until Thursday because deputies couldn't locate him, Koop said.
"This is not uncommon in domestic violence cases where the person who is assaulted doesn't want to go forward," Koop said. "This is a good example of how domestic violence crosses all stratum. A lot of time we don't think of professional people being battered.
David Stowe said the incident provided him a sense of empathy for what others encounter in the criminal justice system, but he declined to discuss the incident.
"We all have issues in our personal life like anyone else and I'm hopeful that we respect the personal lives of people," David Stowe said.
David Stowe was elected to the probate judge post in 2000. Cynthia Stowe is a former family court employee who worked under Stowe from 2002 to 2005.
The two began a romantic relationship while she worked for him; previous to Stowe's hiring of the then-Cynthia Curry, David Stowe oversaw child custody matters in her divorce case. David Stowe and Cynthia Curry married in early 2009.
Benzie Circuit Court Judge James Batzer in September sentenced Cynthia Stowe to a day in jail and a year of probation after she pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of operating a vehicle with a high blood-alcohol content.
She was arrested Aug. 6 and police reported her blood-alcohol level was nearly three times the state's legal limit for intoxication.
She may yet face a probation violation hearing for that charge, and if she again violates her probation Koop can reinstate domestic violence charges.
Eighty-Sixth District Court Judge Michael Haley brokered Friday's plea deal through a phone conference with Batzer, but the deal doesn't take effect until Batzer signs the modified probation terms.
Judge's wife violates bond, goes to jail
February 23, 2012
Art Bukowski
The Record-Eagle
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Traverse City - A local judge's wife went to jail after authorities said she violated her bond on a domestic violence arrest.
Cynthia Stowe, wife of Probate Judge David Stowe, tested positive for alcohol consumption on two separate breath test this month, authorities said. Bond set after a Jan. 30 domestic violence arrest required her to periodically blow into a home testing device.
Her bond included a provision that she not consume alcohol, among several other restrictions.
District Judge Michael Haley on Wednesday revoked Stowe's bond and sent her to jail pending the outcome of the domestic violence charge. She also was arraigned on that charge Wednesday.
Grand Traverse County Sheriff's deputies arrested Stowe after a January altercation at the Long Lake Township home where she lived with David Stowe. her son called police to say she had assaulted David Stowe, police said.
Defense attorney Craig Elhart on Wednesday asked for a hearing on the alleged bond violations. Cynthia Stowe, 50, blamed the failure of the alcohol tests on a dessert that contained rum and a medication given after a dental appointment. Haley wasn't sympathetic.
"That's just inane to offer that as an excuse," he said, of the rum dessert explanation.
David Stowe was elected to the probate judge post in 2000. Cynthia Stowe - known as Cynthia Curry prior to her marriage to Stowe - is a former family court employee who worked under Stowe from 2002 to 2005.
The two began a relationship while they both worked in the court, and David oversaw child custody matters in Cynthia's divorce case. David subsequently fired the county's family court administrator for reporting the relationship to county officials. The county later paid a $69,000 settlement to that ex-employee.
David and Cynthia married in early 2009.
A Benzie Circuit judge in September sentenced Cynthia Stowe to a day in jail and a year probation after she pleaded guily to a misdemeanor count of operating a vehicle with a high-blood alcohol count.
