Deputy Jeffrey Stromer at his sentencing hearing (Stromer is pictured on the right). In a plea agreement, Deputy Stromer was able to have the three counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct against him dropped, in excahnge for him pleading no-contest to a domestic violence charge.
Instead of life in prison, on the three first-degree CSC charges, Deputy Stromer only received 6-24 months of probation for aggravated domestic violence.
Stromer was allowed to return to work at the Houghton County Sheriff Department - working in the county jail.
Former Sheriff's Deputy Gets Probation
WLUC TV6- Houghton
August 2, 2007
http://www.wluctv6.com/Global/story.asp?S=6879283
A former deputy with the Houghton County Sheriff's Department on Monday was sentenced to 6-24 months of probation for aggravated domestic assault.
Forty-six-year-old Jeffery Stromer was arrested in May for domestic and sexual assault and was convicted of a misdemeanor last month.
Three felony charges were dropped as part of a plea bargain. Stromer also lost his job at the Sheriff's Department.
"I'm sure you'll never see him in this courtroom again," said his attorney, Frank Stupak. "And I'm sure he will prove to his family and to this community that justice for him is a term of probation with a delayed sentence.
"Special Judge Tim Brennan handed down the sentence of probation instead of jail time.
Deputy takes plea bargain in sex case
Daily Mining Gazette, MI
By KURT HAUGLIE, DMG Writer
Friday, June 22, 2007
http://www.mininggazette.com/stories/articles.asp?articleID=7522
HOUGHTON — A Houghton County Sheriff’s Deputy arrested by a detective from the Michigan State Police Calumet Post in May on a domestic violence charge and three charges of first degree criminal sexual assault pleaded no contest to the domestic violence charge Thursday in 97th District Court in Houghton.
Jeffery Stromer, 46, of Laurium, made the plea to Baraga County Probate Judge Timothy Brennan, who was presiding in place of Houghton District Court Judge Phillip Kukkonen to avoid any conflict of interest since Stromer is a Houghton County deputy.
Baraga County Prosecuting Attorney Joseph O’Leary, who also presided to avoid the appearance of conflict of interest, said a plea agreement had been reached with Stromer and his attorney, Frank Stupak. With the plea, the three charges of criminal sexual conduct were dropped.
“I have also agreed that I will not oppose a delay of sentence,” O’Leary said.
Brennan then asked Stromer if he understood that the domestic violence charge means without intent to commit murder or great bodily harm. He said he may not delay sentence in which case Stromer would not be able to withdraw his plea.
Brennan asked Stromer, also, if he understood that a no contest plea isn’t an admission of guilt, but is treated as such for the purposes of sentencing. Stromer said he understood all the points.
Brennan said he wanted a pre-sentencing investigation of the case, and will try to get an investigator from outside the Houghton County area. He set 3 p.m. Aug. 2 for the sentencing of Stromer and continued the $25,000 cash bond, which was posted.
A condition of the bond is that Stromer can’t have in-person contact with the victim.
O’Leary said the maximum penalty for the domestic violence charge is one year in jail and/or $1,000.
Local deputy placed on leave
Charged with sex crime
Daily Mining Gazette, MI - 9 hours ago
By GARRETT NEESE, DMG Writer
May 30, 2007
http://www.mininggazette.com/stories/articles.asp?articleID=7222
HOUGHTON — A Houghton County Sheriff’s Department deputy arrested on first-degree criminal sexual conduct and domestic violence charges has been put on administrative leave, sheriff’s department Capt. Marjorie Chandonais said Tuesday.
Jeffrey A. Stromer, 46, was arrested by Michigan State Police troopers Saturday, following an investigation into a domestic violence complaint. MSP Det. Sgt. Tom Rajala said the investigation was prompted by a complaint from the alleged victim.
Rajala would not release the alleged victim’s relationship to Stromer, citing a need for privacy.
First-degree criminal sexual conduct is a felony punishable by up to life in prison. Stromer was arraigned on Sunday with a cash bond set at $25,000.
Sheriff’s department Sgt. Chuck Cadwell said Stromer posted bail and was released.
A preliminary examination is scheduled for June 11 in 97th District Court.Investigative assistance in the case was provided by the Laurium Police Department, the Houghton County Sheriff Department, and a detective from the Michigan State Police post in Negaunee Township.
When asked this morning by the Gazette for a copy of Stromer’s mug shot, Chandonais declined to release it, because the suspect had been booked in Baraga County.
A Baraga County Sheriff’s Department spokeswoman declined to release the photo, as the sheriff was not present.
MI POLICE OFFICER INVOLVED PERPETRATED DOMESTIC VIOLENCE LAW ENFORCEMENT MURDER SUICIDE
