Sunday, August 28, 2011

08282011 - Corrections Officer Jesus Flores - Murdered Wife Jen Guardiola-Flores


AUGUST 28, 2011: Correction Officer Jesus Flores murdered his wife, Jen Guardiola-Fores and then committed suicide.













































Prison officer dead in murder-suicide Jesus and Jennifer Flores found dead
WOOD TV
August 28, 2011
http://www.woodtv.com/dpp/news/local/muskegon_county/One-dead-inside-Muskegon-home





Jesus Flores (left) and Jennifer Flores


MUSKEGON, Mich. (WOOD) - A Muskegon corrections officer and his wife were found dead in a home after what police are calling an apparent murder-suicide, Sunday morning.

Jesus and Jennifer Flores, 36 and 35 respectively, had been arguing, Jennifer's brother told police, when Jesus pull out a gun and shot Jennifer at around 3 a.m.
As the brother ran away, he heard several more shots, police said.

A police SWAT team was called to the scene in the 1900 block of Getty St. and attempted to call Jesus out of the house. They later entered the home and found the couple's bodies.

Family members say the Jesus and Jennifer married 3 months ago and they were not aware of any violence in the couple's history.

Jennifer's father characterized Jesus as a 'great guy'.

"Only the man upstairs knows what was going on in his head," Robert Mendiola, Jesus' brother said. "He took care of his family."

Jesus and Jennifer were both parents of children from other relationships. Jesus had three children and Jennifer had two. None of the children were living in the home.

Jesus worked as a corrections officer at the Muskegon Correctional Facility for several years, his family told 24 Hour News 8. He'd begun training to become a police officer and had hoped to become an officer for the Michigan State Police.

Jesus was the oldest of 4 brothers, Mendiola said, and took on a fatherly role in the family after their father died when they were young.

Their mother died a few years ago and Jesus struggled to come to grips with her death.

"He took it the hardest," Mendiola said, adding that he did not think Jesus was depressed. "(After his mother died) it was a whole different story."

Jennifer held three jobs, working as an accountant, restaurant server, and factory worker. She was close with her mom and dad.

Her father bought a house next door to his own where Jennifer and Jesus has been living, the same house where the shootings occurred.

Investigators continue to look into the case and are awaiting autopsy results.






Husband and  Wife Shot To Death In Murder-Suicide In Muskegon
Incident Began At 3 A.M. At Home In 1900 Block Of South Getty Street In Muskegon

FOX 17 
August 28, 2011
http://www.fox17online.com/news/fox17-murder-suicide-in-muskegon,0,5743319.story



MUSKEGON— Two people died during a murder-suicide involving a husband and wife in Muskegon early Sunday morning.

The Muskegon Police Department is investigating the shooting deaths of a man and a woman in a home in the 1900 block of South Getty Street during the incident. Jesus Flores, 36, and his wife, Jennifer Flores, 35, resided together at the home where the shootings took place.

At 3 a.m. Sunday, officers responded to a reported shooting at the home. Upon arriving they were met by a 33-year-old man who stated that he was present in the home when his sister, Jennifer, and her husband, Jesus, began arguing. He told officers that during the argument Jesus had produced a handgun and shot Jennifer. The brother said when his sister was shot he turned to flee the house and heard more gunshots but was not hit.

Based on the information received from the brother, officers believed Jesus was still inside the home armed and possibly barricaded. The Michigan State Police Emergency Services Team was called in to assist with the situation.

After numerous attempts to make contact with Jesus, the MSP Emergency Services Team made entry to the home and found both Jesus and Jennifer dead from gunshot wounds.

Police said the circumstances leading up to the apparent murder-suicide are unknown at this time and the investigation is continuing.















Prison officer dead in murder-suicide
http://www.frequency.com/video/prison-officer-dead-in-murder-suicide/14887734
















Muskegon Police identify husband and wife who died in apparent murder-suicide
The Muskegon Chronicle
August 28, 2011
http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2011/08/muskegon_police_identify_husba.html

Muskegon Police have identified the husband and wife who died as the result of an apparent murder-suicide that occurred in the 1900-block of S. Getty Street early Sunday.

They are Jesus Flores, 36, and Jennifer Flores, 35. Police said Jesus Flores apparently shot his wife to death, and then himself. Their bodies were found in the Getty Street home, where both resided.

Officers were dispatched to the home around 3 a.m. Sunday on a report of a shooting.

Upon arriving, they were met by a 33-year-old witness who said he was at the home when his sister, Jennifer Flores, and her husband began arguing.

He told officers that during the argument, Jesus produced a handgun and shot Jennifer. The brother said that when his sister was shot, he turned to run from the house and heard more gunshots but he was not hit.

Based on that information, officers believed Jesus Flores was still in the home, armed and possibly barricaded. The Michigan State Police Emergency Services Team was called in to assist.

After numerous attempts to make contact with Jesus Flores, the State Police Emergency Services Team entered the home and found the husband and wife dead from gunshot wounds.

"The circumstances leading up to the apparent murder/suicide are unknown at this time, and the investigation is continuing," according to a press release from Capt. Andy Olson.


















Muskegon murder-suicide under investigation;
Woman's Facebook page carried frantic message moments before shooting
The Muskegon Chronicle
August 29, 2011  
http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2011/08/murder_suicide_muskegon.html


Cross wreaths and flower lay in the front of 1981 S. Getty, where Jesus Flores, 36, allegedly killed his wife, Jennifer Flores, 35, and then himself early Sunday morning in Muskegon. Rachel Iovan / The Muskegon Chronicle. 




It was the red and blue lights flashing outside their Muskegon house about 4 a.m. Sunday that woke Melissa Hill and Oscar Tippins. They live just two houses from where Jesus Flores, 36, allegedly shot his wife, Jennifer Flores, 35, to death and then turned the gun on himself early Sunday morning, police say.

Hill and Tippins both said they did not hear gunfire, though they were asleep when the shooting occurred, which police said was about 3 a.m.

Officers were dispatched to the home at that time on a report of a shooting. Upon arriving, they were met by a 33-year-old witness who said he was at the home when his sister, Jennifer Flores, and her husband began arguing.

He told officers that during the argument, Jesus produced a handgun and shot Jennifer. The brother said that when his sister was shot, he turned to run from the house and heard more gunshots but he was not hit.

Based on that information, officers believed Jesus Flores was still in the home, armed and possibly barricaded. The Michigan State Police Emergency Services Team was called in to assist.

Hill, who has lived in her home on South Getty Street for 16 years, said she saw officers in SWAT gear walking around the Floreses' house as well as officers with police dogs in the area.

When she stepped out her front door to see what was happening, officers instructed her to go back into her house immediately.

Police continued to try and make contact with Jesus Flores, and after numerous attempts, the State Police Emergency Services Team entered the home and found the husband and wife dead from gunshot wounds.

"The circumstances leading up to the apparent murder/suicide are unknown at this time, and the investigation is continuing," according to a press release from Capt. Andy Olson.

Another neighbor, Michael Jenkins, said he had heard Jennifer and Jesus arguing recently, but "nothing violent" — "just typical married couple stuff."

A comment that has since been removed from Jennifer Flores' Facebook page showed a seemingly frantic post written by her from her cell phone about 2:50 a.m. Sunday — within minutes of when police said the shooting occurred.

It stated, "I tried I swear I tried.....be [sic] just don't get it!!! God help me!! Cuz I swear o [sic] am gonna hurt this man....he is trying to send me to prison!!! I need my friends right now....please come get me out this hell.....you guys have no idea where I'm at!!!"


A state of Michigan online database lists Jesus Flores as a Michigan Department of Corrections employee assigned to the Brooks Correctional Facility in Muskegon.

More than two hours after police arrived, about 6:15 a.m, Hill said she saw Jennifer Flores' mother crying and walking down the sidewalk away from the house where her daughter and son-in-law were killed.

"That's when I knew it was over," said Hill.

Jenkins said Jennifer and Jesus married about three months ago after a yearslong relationship. The newlyweds rented their home from Jennifer's parents, who bought the home and made repairs to it a few years ago.

"These are good people. We have always looked after each other," Jenkins said.
"I just don't understand this."

He said he has known the Flores family for 21 years, since he moved to S. Getty Street.

"This is not a bad neighborhood. Most of us have lived here for years," Jenkins said. "It's such a shame."















Murder-suicide victim on Facebook: Help
Jennifer Flores posted online minutes before death
WOOD TV
August 28, 2011







Jennifer Flores, courtesy her Facebook page



Jesus and Jennifer Flores, courtesy her Facebook page



A Facebook posting on Jennifer Flores' page, posted around the time police say she was shot and killed by her husband, who ultimately killed himself. (Aug 28, 2011).


Jennifer Flores, courtesy her Facebook page


Jennifer Flores, courtesy her Facebook page


Raul Gaurdiola, Jennifer Flores' father, walks with her at her wedding (May 2011)


MUSKEGON, Mich. (WOOD) - Police say Jennifer Flores was shot to death Sunday morning, around the same time she wrote a posting begging for help on her Facebook page.

Jennifer was found dead in her home along with her husband, Jesus Flores.

Investigators say Jesus, a state prison corrections officer, shot Jennifer before shooting and killing himself.

"I tried I swear I tried," a post on Jennifer's Facebook page said.
 
"God help me!! Cuz I swear o (sic) am gonna hurt this man.....he is trying to send me to prison!!! I need my friends right now....please come get me out this hell.....you guys have no idea where I'm at!!!"

Facebook shows the posting was made from a cell phone around 3 a.m.

Friends immediately showed their concern.

"Jen what's going on?" one friend wrote. "I am here if you need to talk," wrote another.

Several hours later someone broke the news on her page.

"He took her life then his own is what I just heard."

Jennifer had two children, and Jesus who was known as Jesse, had three. The children were from other relationships.

They were newlyweds -- Jesus and Jennifer married in May, family and friends told 24 Hour News 8. Both of them grew up in the Muskegon area and loved to ride motorcycles.

Jennifer was close with her family, in fact her father bought a home for her and

Jesus next door to his own, the same house where the shootings took place.

"We worked together, we lived next door to each other," Vanessa Gaurdiola,

Jennifer's sister, said. "I could never imagine this happening to her."

Family members say there was no issue with violence between the couple, though they did have arguments "like any other couple." Jennifer's loved ones say they welcomed Jesus into their family.

"He was a fine person -- nice man -- helped my daughter," Raul Gaurdiola, Jennifer's father, said. "Just a good person. Never expected this."

Muskegon police say they aren't sure what led up to the shooting, but Jennifer's brother, who saw her get shot, told police the couple was arguing.

After witnessing the shooting, the brother, 33, ran out of the house to get help and heard more gunshots being fired. He was not hurt, police said.

Police called in a SWAT team and were concerned that Jesus had barricaded himself inside the home. After attempting to order him out of the house, officers went inside and discovered the bodies.

"She thought she found the husband that she could be with and who would take care of her and love her," Vanessa said. "I guess that wasn't the case."

Still, Jennifer's family says they have no bad feelings against Jesus.

"I think it was just a very, very bad thing. Bad decisions were made. I think it was just a grave accident," Vanessa said.

"I don't got time for angriness," Gaurdiola said. "Angriness doesn't get you nowhere.

"It was an argument that went really wrong."

Funeral arrangements have not been finalized.

Autopsies will be conducted to help police determine the details of what happened.















Murder-suicide victim had warrant out
Jennifer Flores wanted for domestic violence

WOOD TV
Aug 29, 2011
http://www.woodtv.com/dpp/news/local/muskegon_county/Murder-suicide-victim-had-warrant-out



MUSKEGON, Mich. (WOOD) - The victim in a Sunday morning murder-suicide had a domestic violence warrant out for her arrest that stemmed from an incident earlier this year between her and her husband, the man police say killed her.

Jennifer and Jesus Flores were found dead in their home. Investigators say Jesus, a state prison corrections officer also known as Jesse, shot Jennifer before shooting and killing himself.

Family members of both Jennifer and Jesse said they were not aware of violence in the couple's relationship, but police say they dealt with the pair on several occasions during the past several years.

A Facebook posting on Jennifer's page made shortly before the shooting seems to imply an ongoing problem.

"I tried I swear I tried," the post said. "God help me!! Cuz I swear o (sic) am gonna hurt this man.....he is trying to send me to prison!!! I need my friends right now....please come get me out this hell.....you guys have no idea where I'm at!!!"

A violent incident earlier this year prompted authorities to issue a warrant for Jennifer's arrest that was active at the time of her death, police told 24 Hour News 8.

In a police report obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, police say they responded to the couples' home on June 18 around 3:30 a.m. in response to a domestic dispute. Investigating officers reported seeing visible injuries on Jesus' body that included several scratches. Jesus told officers that Jennifer was accusing him of cheating and was "upset at him," the report said.

Jennifer, police wrote, would not cooperate with investigators and said police always take Jesus' side of the story. She said she was kicked but "no one cares," police stated. She told officers to "go ahead and get a warrant."

Prosecutors authorized the warrant.

With limited resources and thousands of active warrants, police say they don't actively seek suspects unless the facts of the case require such attention because of the offense's severity.

They do, however, act on warrants if they come in contact with a suspect for any reason such as a traffic stop.

"It's not something officers can go immediately and just make an arrest," Muskegon Police Capt. Andy Olson said.

Police say there were several other incidents involving the couple that did not result in arrests or warrants and were not physically violent.

















Police: Investigation into murder-suicide Sunday of Jesus and Jennifer Flores 'wrapping up'
The Muskegon Chronicle
August 29, 2011
http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2011/08/post_147.html

MUSKEGON — Authorities are wrapping up their investigation into the murder-suicide early Sunday at a Getty Street home in Muskegon involving a Michigan Department of Corrections officer and his wife.

Muskegon Police investigators determined that Jesus Flores, 36, fatally shot his wife, Jennifer Flores, 35, in the head around 3 a.m. at their home at 1981 Getty and then turned the gun on himself, said Muskegon Police Detective Capt. Andy Olson.

Russell L. Marlan, an MDOC spokesman, said Jesus Flores was a state corrections officer who was hired in November 2005, assigned to the Earnest C. Brooks Correctional Facility in Muskegon.

Marlan said Jesus Flores worked second shift, 2 p.m. to 10 p.m., and had worked the night previous to the shooting.

Olson said Monday that investigators don't suspect anything other than what they've already determined resulted in the deaths.

They are awaiting results from autopsies and otherwise "wrapping up" the investigation, he said.

Jennifer Flores' brother was at the home when his sister was shot, Olson said.

He told officers that during an argument between the husband and wife, Jesus pulled out a handgun and shot Jennifer. The brother said that when his sister was shot, he turned to run from the house and heard more gunshots but he was not hit.

Based on that information, officers believed Jesus Flores was still in the home, armed and possibly barricaded. The Michigan State Police Emergency Services Team was called in to assist. They entered and found the bodies of both the husband and wife.

It wasn't clear what the couple was arguing about prior to the shooting, Olson said.

It appears the couple had a volatile relationship that Jennifer Flores revealed on her Facebook page just minutes before her husband shot her. She requested help from her friends, indicating she feared her husband was out to get her and possibly physically harm her.

People at the scene said the couple married about three months ago. Funeral arrangements were pending Monday.














Muskegon man who killed wife, self was corrections officer
Macomb Daily
August 30, 2011
http://www.macombdaily.com/articles/2011/08/30/news/doc4e5cea92d27e5637861980.txt

MUSKEGON (AP) — Authorities say a western Michigan man who fatally shot his wife before killing himself was a state corrections officer.

Muskegon police say they found the bodies of 36-year-old Jesus Flores and his 35-year-old wife Jennifer in their home Sunday.

WWMT-TV says Jesus Flores worked at the Brooks Correctional Facility in Muskegon.

The station says Jennifer Flores’ brother saw her husband pull out a gun and shoot her. The couple were recently married.
















Jennifer Guardiola-Flores
Muskegon Chronicle
August 31, 2011
http://obits.mlive.com/obituaries/muskegon/obituary.aspx?n=jennifer-guardiola-flores&pid=153381942

GUARDIOLA-FLORES, MRS. JENNIFER MICHELLE
Muskegon
Mrs. Jennifer M. Guardiola-Flores, age 35, died Sunday, August 28, 2011. She was born in Shelby, MI on May 11, 1976 to Raul & Olga (Rodriguez) Guardiola and married Jesus Flores on May 21, 2011 Jennifer had been employed as a welder at Shape Corporation. She adored her 2 boys, enjoyed working and loved riding her Harley Davidson Sportster. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her. SURVIVORS Boys, Camren GrayScreetch, Eric GrayScreetch; parents, Raul (Olga) Guardiola; siblings, Christopher (Becky) Guardiola, Miguel Guardiola, Vanessa Guardiola; grandmother, Frances Guardiola; and a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews & cousins; father to her boys, Orantez GrayScreetch. She was preceded in death by her grandparents, George Guardiola, Raul & Conchita Rodriguez. SERVICE Saturday, September 3, 2011, 1:00 PM at the Clock Chapel - Muskegon with Rev. Carlos Ramos officiating. Interment at Mona View Cemetery. VISITATION Friday, 6-8 PM at Clock Life Story Funeral Home - Muskegon. MEMORIAL: To the Family. Please visit www.clock funeralhome.com to leave a memory or sign the online guest book. Clock Life Story - Muskegon Clock Life Story Funeral Home.




Saturday, August 6, 2011

08062011 - Judge David Stowe - Ex-Wife Cynthia Stowe - Probation

On August 06, 2011, Cynthia Stowe [wife of Grand Traverse County Judge David Stowe] was arrested for drunk driving. Cynthia was placed on probation for one year.

On January 30, 2012, while Cynthia was still on probation, she was arrested for assaulting her husband and teenage son. For the domestic violence assault, Cynthia's DUI probation was extended another year. Cynthia was ordered to not consume alcohol. Over the course of 2012, Cynthia would be arrested more than a half dozen times for violation of her DUI / DV probation.


January 30, 2012 domestic violence assault arrest





Judge's wife released from jail

February 25, 2012
Brian McGillivary
The Record-Eagle
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:JZTVAwa2a3YJ:record-eagle.com/local/x1513923359/Judges-wife-released-from-jail+&cd=3&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us

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 admits to 'very poor choice'
Guilty plea results in probation for 1 year, $1,300 fine
BY ALEX PIAZZA
September 8, 2011
Record-Eagle
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:Tt3T8XHS4SMJ:record-eagle.com/local/x397274511/Judges-wife-admits-to-very-poor-choice/print+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us

SUTTONS BAY — A local probate judge's wife will be on probation for a year and must pay about $1,300 in fees and fines after she pleaded guilty to what she considered "a very poor choice."

Benzie Circuit Judge James Batzer recently sentenced Cynthia Stowe, wife of Grand Traverse County Probate Judge David Stowe, to a day in jail and a year of probation after she pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of operating with a high blood-alcohol content.

She also is required to pay about $1,300 and complete 40 hours of community service.

"It was a serious poor, poor choice on my part," she said. "I'm not making any justification for this. I will regret it for the rest of my life. I have never put myself in this type of situation. That's not my lifestyle. It was just stupid."

On Aug. 6, Leelanau County sheriff's deputies stopped Cynthia Stowe's vehicle for erratic driving around 2:30 a.m. along Cherry Bend Road in Elmwood Township. She was the vehicle's lone occupant, and deputies said her blood-alcohol content at the time of the traffic stop was 0.23 and 0.24 percent. Deputies arrested Stowe and took her to the Leelanau County Jail, where she received credit for her day behind bars.

Prosecutors often charge motorists with operating with a high blood-alcohol content when their preliminary breath test registers higher than 0.17 percent, more than twice the state's legal limit of 0.08 percent to drive a vehicle.

The charge carries a maximum punishment of 180 days in jail, but Batzer said he ordered her to serve only a day because she did not have a criminal history.

"She didn't get a deal," Batzer said. "It's not unusual. Lots of people, on their first time, don't get jail."

The State Court Administrative Office assigned Batzer to the case after 86th District Court judges recused themselves because of their professional relationships with David Stowe. Batzer often only hears felony drunken-driving cases at the circuit court level.

Leelanau Prosecutor Joseph Hubbell said he wasn't surprised Batzer decided against a lengthier sentence.

"She's a first-time offender," Hubbell said. "First-time offenders don't go to jail. I don't believe Mrs. Stowe was treated any differently than anyone else was and I don't find any special treatment in her sentence."

Leelanau Sheriff Mike Oltersdorf agreed.

"Our job as law enforcement is to arrest," Oltersdorf said. "I'm not going to second-guess the prosecutor or the judge. Does this particular case look to be out of the ordinary? No."











Judges bow out of case with wife of colleague
Probate judge's spouse is facing DUI charge
BY ALEX PIAZZA
Traverse City Record-Eagle
August 16, 2011
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:xrtI2ILTubYJ:record-eagle.com/local/x1552634517/Judges-bow-out-of-case-with-wife-of-colleague/print+&cd=20&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us

SUTTONS BAY — Eighty-sixth District Court judges won't hear a drunken driving case involving a local probate judge's wife.

Judges Thomas J. Phillips, Mike Stepka and Michael J. Haley recused themselves last week from a misdemeanor drunken-driving case involving Cynthia M. Stowe, wife of Grand Traverse County Probate Judge David Stowe.

The state court administrative office is expected to appoint a judge to hear Cynthia Stowe's case, likely someone who is not a probate judge and does not work in northwest Michigan. The three judges recused themselves because of their professional relationships with David Stowe.

"We share the same building, we do some of his docket when he's gone," Phillips said.

Cynthia Stowe, 50, faces a count of operating with a high blood-alcohol content, a misdemeanor crime that carries a maximum punishment of 180 days in jail. Her pretrial conference is set for Friday in Suttons Bay.

On Aug. 6, Leelanau County sheriff's deputies stopped her vehicle for erratic driving around 2:30 a.m. along Cherry Bend Road in Elmwood Township. She was the vehicle's lone occupant, and deputies said she failed a preliminary breath test, so they arrested her.

Prosecutors often charge motorists with operating with a high blood alcohol content when their preliminary breath test registers higher than 0.17 percent, more than twice the state's legal limit of 0.08 to drive a vehicle.

"My understanding is that she was cooperative and she didn't make any statements asking for any preferential treatment," Leelanau Sheriff Mike Oltersdorf said. "Just a routine traffic stop and drunk-driving investigation."

Cynthia Stowe didn't return calls for comment. David Stowe couldn't be reached for comment.