The Prosecution and the Prostitution

[XLFD]

Those who have been prosecuted unfairly in Ingham County, like the maligned Bathroom Stall Glamour Terrorist, have something to smile about today, as the head prosecutor was exposed as the head prostitutor: 

                                  Caught with his briefs down, Ingham County Prosecutor Describes the Magnitude of His Crimes

LANSING -- Stuart Dunnings III, Ingham County's prosecuting attorney for nearly two decades, is facing at least a dozen criminal charges in two counties. Most are misdemeanors of soliciting prostitution, according to court records, but one count in Ingham County's 54A District Court is for pandering, a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

Word first broke at mid-morning when Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette sent an emailed media alert saying he will discuss "criminal charges filed against" Dunnings in a news conference at 1 p.m. today.

The brief announcement contained few details, but said Ingham County Sheriff Gene Wriggelsworth would join Schuette at the media briefing where they will  "provide brief remarks about the charges and arrest" of Dunnings, 63.

Charges began appearing in district courts shortly after.

The court computer for 54A District Court in Lansing shows seven criminal charges, including pandering, which is a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Court records also show a charge of willful neglect of duty and five counts of engaging in the services of a prostitute.

The court computer for 55th District Court in Mason shows three criminal charges entered today: willful neglect of duty and two counts of engaging in services of a prostitute. Dunnings hasn't been arraigned yet, according to court records.

Mike Dillon, court administrator for 55th District Court, said the judges there have recused themselves and he has requested that the state assign a judge from another county to the case. He did not know when that would happen.

Officials at Ionia County's 64A District Court confirmed this morning that Dunnings faces two counts there: willful neglect of duty and soliciting the services of a prostitute.

Dunnings was first elected prosecutor in November 1996 and was most recently re-elected in 2012 to his fifth four-year term. He is a past president of the Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan.

http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/news/local/2016/03/14/ags-...

[Willy]

One thing about Dunnings is that he is a very good attorney and had much success when in private practice. He is also a fair and well liked and competent prosecutor. I don't know if what he is being charged with is true or not but I certainly hope it isn't. If he is found guilty then Ingham County will be losing a legal asset. I can't believe he would be so stupid as to be involved with prostitution. I have to give him the benefit of the doubt concerning this matter.

[XLFD]

When I first looked at what was coming out on these developments, I had wondered whether Dunnings might be getting some form of political payback from the Attorney General Bill Schuette, who is a very political animal.  I have seen too often many 'good' politicos getting railroaded by the bad ones to get them out of the way, and considered this a possibility-- it could be the case here. 

But I also looked for evidence of what might have gotten Dunnings into the crosshairs of the state, and I really couldn't find any.  I found some criticisms from the left at this link and a copblock article about his inaction in a 2011 police shooting of a young girl, I found some blurbs about his career that seemed non-exceptional including some notable prosecutions of human trafficking cases. 

When Dunnings responds, I hope to see and report on that, because all we have to go on so far is the AG's press releases.