Re: April Reynolds

[XLFD]

On December 27, 2011 a Personal Protection Order (PPO) was issued by Circuit Court Judge Richard Cooper on April Reynolds regarding some alleged behavior by her to Ariel Courtland, Baby Kate's mother.  In Courtland's claim for the PPO, Ariel stated that Reynolds called her at least 30 times on Christmas Eve and left voice mail messages threatening to kill her. 

 

A PPO sounds reasonable if such harassing activity has taken place, which should be easily proved by phone records and the voice mail messages.

 

April Reynolds challenged the PPO decision in court on February 1st in front of Judge Cooper with Ariel Courtland present.  According to WMOM reports, Ariel stated Mrs. Reynolds has posted disparaging information about her on three different Facebook pages.  She reiterated that she is not and never has been a suspect in the disappearance of her daughter, Baby Kate. And, stated that she never has requested help from April Reynolds.

 

When Reynolds took the stand the story was completely different. She claimed that Ariel's application for the PPO was 99.9% false. She insisted that Ariel had contacted her in August. But later admitted that she had posted numerous hostile messages on various Facebook pages. After carefully considering all of the testimony, Judge Cooper ruled that the original PPO would stand.

 

April joined the Ludington Torch as a member back on August 16, 2011.  A review of her postings shows she does have an opinion of some complicity at the least by Ariel Courtland in the disappearance of Baby Kate.  Her outspoken views could upset Ariel, but her posts here, at least, have been measured and well within her rights given her by the First Amendment.  I cannot comment on her posts elsewhere, but it seems as if her main beef has been with the rigor of the investigation by the investigating unit, the Ludington Police Department (LPD). 

 

This was confirmed by the protest march she organized at the end of October.  She organized the event to protest the LPD's flawed investigation of Baby Kate; later on in November she was visited in Grand Rapids by two LPD detectives under questionable rationale and methods.  I think there was a correlation between her activism and the visit, where the lead detective made an explicit threat to her about obstructing an investigation.

 

Come December 27, 2011 Ariel Courtland petitions for a PPO saying April had phoned her on Christmas Eve over 30 times and threatened to kill her on voice messages.  Yet, according to what has been reported on at the hearing, she fell back not on these alleged calls and threat, a definite PPO starter, but on Facebook postings by April that disputed her innocence in the investigation of the disappearance of her baby. 

 

Perhaps this is why April claimed her PPO application was 99.9% false.  And that's the point here.  If those 30+ phone calls were never made, if no voice mails exist of April Reynolds making a threat to Ariel is forthcoming, and the information that Ariel included on her PPO was falsified and/or exaggerated, then she may not be guilty of anything involving her baby, but is guilty of

MCL 600.2950(24):  "An individual who knowingly and intentionally makes a false statement to the court in support of his or her petition for a personal protection order is subject to the contempt powers of the court."

 

April's statements right here at the Torch on 12-30 and 1-6 also seem to indicate that the City applied for the PPO on Ariel's behalf:

 

Please tell me how a city can get a personal protection order on someone and issue a bench warrant on something that never happened?

Status posted by april Dec 30, 2011

3 Comments 0 Likes +1

XLFD Has there been such a PPO or BW issued to someone thusly, April, or just the threat?

Dec 30, 2011

april no I was verbally served.

Jan 6

april mind you I have no copy of my ppo and am not allowed to get a copy of the police report.

Jan 6

 

 

 

The City of Ludington, which includes the LPD, does not like the bad publicity it has got from April Reynold's efforts.  Could they have petitioned the Circuit Court with data that could besmirch the actions and character of April enough so as to get a PPO issued to her, based on events that never happened?

 

Let us not forget, this has happened before.  After two weeks of LPD Chief Barnett, LCM John Shay, and CA Richard Merlin Wilson recrafting ordinances, the false report that the Ludington Community Development Director Heather Venzke made to Shay, passed on by him in a different form to Sergeant Schultz of the LPD, that resulted in a PPO-like Letter of Trespass issued to this person back in March 2011; one that I was never allowed to see without spending a bunch on a FOIA request, as earlier related here. 

 

If Ms. Reynolds did what she is claimed to have done on her PPO, shame on her.  If she has not, shame on Ariel.  If the City or the LPD once again went beyond their powers and duties in order to crucify the reputation of someone who criticized their handling of things, shame on them.  And if this latter is the case, I hope April Reynolds follows my lead, and holds them accountable.  We will only get further abuses of power by them in the future if we don't.   

 

 

[Marty Redman]

If I may add my two cents.  The actual cost to yourself over time could be well over the cost of fighting this. with all the havoc a PPO could affect with all the stuff Willy mentions and more.  Initiating a complaint in the Circuit Court will cost you around $100-200, use the internet to find a template for a complaint and keep it centered on points of fact if you want to save some legal expense, but have a lawyer in court with you to strengthen your case.  It'll cost you about $500, but judges are more impressed with lawyers.

You will never be able to satisfactorily convince a judge that you did not threaten to harm her if it's her story against yours, but you can and should show that you made only five calls rather than 30+, and you have her where you want her.  With that decision of facts and with her facing contempt charges, you could come back to Cooper's Circuit Court anytime with a motion to dismiss her PPO based on the fact that Ms. Courtland's charges were fraudulent, and that she was involved with a fraud upon the court.  Have your family and friends that believe in you, help out with the expenses.

Or let Ariel crow about her victory over you on her Facebook pages, if you'd rather.  If you want something in this world, you got to fight and you got to spend.  Right, XLFD?

 

[april]

I have been fighting, this is why I went and got the hearing to dismiss/terminate the ppo, but I knew it wouldn't be lifted because I am dealing with Ludington and all they are worried about is me intervening. Should the judge have noe seen her lies as "some " of us did? as in her saying she talked to me twice and told me to quit calling her but yet at the hearing said she never heard my voice until that day????

[XLFD]

Get a court transcript to show such inconsistencies for $40 and go for it.  I'll put up the money and get a transcript, if you can guarantee me you'll go to court to seek justice for yourself and Baby Kate.  That offer will end by the end of this Wednesday, so act fast.

Right, Marty.

[april]

Will things she said in the courtroom while I was on the stand be on the transcripts?

[XLFD]

In the one transcript I have received from the Mason Co. Courthouse, they had all the interruptions and stutters and "ums" that occurred.  If what Ariel said was audible, it would likely show up, particularly if it affected your testimony at the time. 

[april]

Ok because she interrupted me a few times and some of the "lies" were said while she wasn't on the stand.

[XLFD]

Sunday is the anniversary of Baby Kate's birth, a birthday, we would hope.  A somber celebration is planned from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at People’s Church, 115 W. Loomis St., organized by Ariel Courtland and her friends.  Kate has been missing since June 29, 2011.  Her father, Sean Phillips is the main suspect, and is scheduled to have his trial begin on February 22 in Judge Cooper's 51st Circuit Court.  Let's all hope for some break in this case, and some good news for the most recent parental child abduction in Hamlin Township.