LIVINGSTON COUNTY – The Livingston County Board of Supervisors is not re-appointing longtime Chief Public Defender Marcea Clark-Tetamore for another four-year term. Livingston County Administrator Ian Coyle said that the decision was made after the Board of Supervisors deliberated on her reappointment. "Ms. Tetamore's service to the County will end on 12/31/17 due to a change in direction for the leadership of the Public Defender's Office," … [Read more...]
Public Defender: ‘Disobey Upcoming State Guidelines’
LIVINGSTON COUNTY – Chief Public Defender Marcea Clark Tetamore recommends that the County ignore upcoming state expansions to public defense eligibility parameters. Under current indigent defense eligibility guidelines, a person required to appear in criminal, family or surrogate court qualifies for the Public Defender if they make $14,850 or less per year. After April 1, 2017, anyone making $29,700 or less will qualify. Tetamore re-iterated … [Read more...]
Bar Assn. Concerns Postpone Vote on Conflict Office
LIVINGSTON COUNTY – The Livingston County Board of Supervisors delayed a vote on creating an unprecedented 'Conflict Defender's Office' after the Livingston County Bar Association presented concerns at Wednesday's public hearing. County Attorney David Morris said that the Conflict Defender's Office would be county employees who provide legal counsel for indigent individuals whom the Public Defender's Office cannot represent due to a conflict. … [Read more...]
New Public Defender Income Standards to Greatly Impact County
LIVINGSTON COUNTY — Livingston County's Chief Public Defender told the Board of Supervisors that she anticipates at least a 70 percent increase in case work load as a result of new economic standards to qualify for public defender representation. According to Marcea Clark Tetamore, Chief Public Defender, in 2015, her office received 1,701 applications for publicly funded legal representation and 1,004 qualified for the office's services. Under … [Read more...]
Infant’s Sex Abuser Dodges Trial with 15 Years in Prison
LIVINGSTON COUNTY – Even after an Avon man was offered the chance to take back his guilty plea and go to trial, he decided to go to prison quietly for sexually abusing an infant family member on August 1, 2005. Matthew Bennett, 42, was sentenced to 15 years and 20 years of post-release supervision for Sex Abuse in the First Degree, a B felony, after Judge Robert Wiggins offered him the chance to withdraw his guilty plea and take the case to … [Read more...]
DA Disappointed with Judge’s Sentence Offer for Alleged Rape Cospiracy
LIVINGSTON COUNTY – As it stands, Livingston County District Attorney Greg McCaffrey is not satisfied with Judge Robert Wiggins' proposed sentence for a Livonia man who is moving toward resolving felony Conspiracy charges. Robert Bentley, 27, was arrested with Matthew Bateman, 23, in June for allegedly plotting to kidnap and rape an employee at their Individualized Residential Alternatives (IRA) home in Springwater and a Livingston County … [Read more...]
Public Defender ‘Disgusted’ with McCaffrey and DA’s Office
LIVINGSTON COUNTY – A heated argument has erupted at the Livingston County courthouse as Public Defender Marcea Clark Tetamore expressed complete disgust and fundamental disagreement with District Attorney Greg McCaffrey's Office and felony sex crime law, saying that her client was unjustly forced to plead guilty and accept an excessive prison sentence to avoid possible life in prison. Tetamore believes that McCaffrey unfairly took advantage … [Read more...]
Alleged Caledonia Boy Scout Predator Weighs State and Federal Prosecution
LIVINGSTON COUNTY — Daniel Fisher, the former Assistant Caledonia Boy Scout Leader charged with multiple sex offenses concerning child pornography, made his first appearance in Livingston County Court, where the District Attorney's office laid out a potential plea deal. According to Assistant District Attorney Joshua Tonra, Daniel Fisher, 26, has been charged with Possessing a Sexual Performance by a Child, an E felony, Promoting a Sexual … [Read more...]
New Charges Stack, ID Thief Begs for Prison after Robbing 91-Year-Old
LIVINGSTON COUNTY – A Dansville woman who admits to forging $2,800 from a 91-year-old woman for whom she was an overnight caregiver is asking to go to prison as soon as possible as even more charges pour in from the south of Livingston County. Ann Rauber, 41, is already facing down 16 charges, 11 of which are felonies, for stealing $2,800 from the elderly woman she was supposed to be caring for, then allegedly opening fraudulent credit card … [Read more...]
Heroin and Cocaine Dealer no Longer Owes Drug Task Force
LIVINGSTON COUNTY – A man who sold $300 of heroin and cocaine to undercover police with the Livingston County Drug Task Force was sentenced to state prison Tuesday morning, no longer owes restitution for the money they spent on him. Randy Rowe, 33, was sentenced to 3 years in state prison and 3 years of post-release supervision, against his wish that he instead be sentenced to Willard Drug Treatment Center, a drug treatment center for inmates … [Read more...]