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Deputy Scott Ford: Violation of probation [May 03, 2010]
Ford sentenced to additional month in jail and sex offender assessment for probation violation
July 02, 2010
By Christina Rohn News-Review Staff Writer
Petoskey News
http://articles.petoskeynews.com/2010-07-02/scott-harold-ford_24152101
A former Emmet County Sheriff’s deputy, who recently admitted to violating his two-year probation term while serving time in the Charlevoix County Jail, had an additional month added to his sentence Thursday, July 1, in 57th Circuit Court.
Scott Harold Ford, 40, of Carp Lake was more than halfway complete with serving the first six months of his 11-month jail term, which Judge Charles W. Johnson sentenced him to in January, for crimes he had pleaded guilty to committing in 2007 and 2008.
Ford was sentenced for one count of unauthorized access of a computer network (Law Enforcement Information Network), a five-year felony; and two counts of refusal to aid the sheriff, both of which are 90-day misdemeanors.
During the time of his initial sentencing, Johnson ordered Ford to serve the first six months of his punishment in the Charlevoix County Jail, with the possibility of tether if he exhibited good behavior. In addition, he was also allowed work release.
This changed on May 3, when two corrections officers from the Charlevoix County Jail reported that Ford had been “allegedly exposing himself in a sexual manner toward female inmates.”
A jail disciplinary board conducted a review of Ford’s actions and determined that he was responsible for unauthorized communication with other inmates, as well as creating a disturbance.
On June 3, Ford pleaded guilty to unauthorized communication, and as a result, the Emmet County Prosecutor’s Office dismissed the second count against him.
During Ford’s probation violation sentencing Thursday, July 1, Duane Beach, chief assistant prosecutor for Emmet County, asked that Johnson require Ford to complete a sex offender assessment.
“I’m urging this court to consider this deviant behavior,” Beach said. “It wasn’t like he chose a private place to do it ... it certainly merits an assessment to find the cause of this behavior.”
Toward the end of the proceedings, Ford wept as he spoke on his own behalf.
“Your honor, I’m not a sex offender ... I did involve myself in behavior that is ridiculous now that I think about it,” he said. “This is no place I ever saw myself ... I’m losing so much, my house is for sale ... I have no income, and I’ve never been without a job my entire adult life — I’m out of options with my wife ... I just want this to be over.”
Judge Johnson asked Ford why he wasn’t thinking of these things before he participated in the action that brought him before the court.
“It was a stupid game,” Ford said. “It was poor, poor judgment. I apologize to have to waste the court’s time.”
As a result of these proceedings, Johnson revoked Ford’s opportunity for work release or tether, and added an additional month to his 11-month sentence — making his a one-year jail term, with 173 days credit for time already served.
In addition, Johnson is also requiring that Ford receive a sex offender assessment.
“This defendant’s conduct is characterized as grossly inappropriate for many, many reasons, not the least of which is that this man is married,” Johnson said.
Ex-deputy Ford admits to probation violation
could face five years in prison
June 04, 2010
Christina Rohn
Petoskey News
http://articles.petoskeynews.com/2010-06-04/probation_24150981
A former sheriff's deputy pleaded guilty today in 57th Circuit Court to three of the nine charges against him.
Scott Harold Ford, 39, of Carp Lake, who was fired from the Emmet County Sheriff's Department in December of 2008, for allegedly committing several acts of misconduct while on duty, pleaded guilty Monday to one count of unauthorized access of a computer network (Law Enforcement Information Network), a five-year felony; and two counts of refusal to aid the sheriff, both 90-day misdemeanors.
In exchange for this plea, the Emmet County Prosecutor's Office dismissed the remaining six charges against Ford, which include one count of false certification - impermissible use of personal information, a five-year felony; one count of using a computer to commit a crime, a seven-year felony; two counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct, both two-year, high-court misdemeanors; and two counts of obstructing justice, both five-year felonies.
Judge Charles W. Johnson sentenced him to 11 months in jail, two years probation and 200 hours of community service.
The 39-year-old Carp Lake resident was being sentenced for three charges he pleaded guilty to in October 2009, which included one count of unauthorized access of a computer network (Law Enforcement Information Network), a five-year felony; and two counts of refusal to aid the sheriff, both of which are 90-day misdemeanors.
During sentencing, Johnson stipulated that Ford would be required to spend the first six months of his sentence in jail, with the opportunity for tether if he exhibits good behavior.
Former Emmet County Sheriff’s deputy Scott Ford pleaded guilty Thursday, June 3, in 57th Circuit Court to “unauthorized communication” with fellow inmates — one of two probation violation counts against him.
At the time of this alleged violation, Ford was serving time in the Charlevoix County Jail for a previous crime.
In January, Judge Charles W. Johnson ordered Ford to serve 11 months in jail, with the first six months to be served immediately, after he pleaded guilty in October 2009 to one count of unauthorized access of a computer network (the Law Enforcement Information Network) and two counts of refusal to aid the sheriff.
As part of Ford’s sentence, he was also placed on two years probation, and granted work release, as well as the opportunity for tether if he exhibited good behavior.
According to reports written May 3 by two separate corrections officers at the Charlevoix County Jail, Ford was “allegedly exposing himself in a sexual manner toward female inmates.”
During his plea hearing Thursday, Ford admitted his guilt to Judge Johnson for the first count against him.
“I was improperly communicating with other inmates,” he said. “I was making hand gestures and communication gestures though the reflection of a jail window.”
As a result of his plea, the Emmet County Prosecutor’s Office is dropping the second charge against Ford in his probation violation case.
Although a date has not yet been set for Ford’s sentencing on this matter, Judge Johnson indicated that he could face up to five years in prison for the charge.
In addition, Johnson stated during Thursday’s hearing that Ford would no longer be allowed work release, and that tether was out of the question.
