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Crime
Court of Appeals Reverses Local Judge Who Sentenced Defendant to 22-37.5 Years After “Disrespectful” Behavior During Hearings
Note: This is one in a series of articles about the Washtenaw County Trial Court and cases where a litigant or litigants appealed a County Trial Court judge’s ruling. The majority of local Trial Court rulings are upheld by…
Why We’re Suing the University of Michigan on Behalf of Banned Pro-Palestinian Protesters
by Ramis J. Wadood
The constitutional right to speak and protest freely is fundamental to a well-functioning democracy, particularly at public universities where diversity of thought, civic engagement, and vigorous debate about ideas…
County Sheriff and Dir. of Engagement Lied, Knew About Deputy’s Background Check Rape Investigations
NOTE: This reporting was made possible by the Ann Arbor Independent's FOIA Fund. Donate today!
by P.D. Lesko
In March 2024, the Ann Arbor Independent made a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to Washtenaw County for the…
A2Indy Files FOIA Suit Against Supreme Felons, Inc. to Force Release of Public Records
by P.D. Lesko
On Nov. 21, 2024 the Ann Arbor Independent filed suit in the Washtenaw County 22nd Circuit Court against Supreme Felons, Inc. In Sept. of 2024, the newspaper submitted two Freedom of Information Act requests to Supreme…
Trio of Washtenaw County Reps. Behind Legislation to Keep Judges From Denying Bail to Violent Criminals
by Hasan Almasi
Six bills under consideration in the Michigan’s House Criminal Justice Committee would reform state law to limit judges from requiring bail as a condition of release for some accused criminals awaiting trial.
Among…
Judge Refuses to Seal Greenhills Principal’s Case File: “Plaintiff Himself Widely Disseminated Information”
by P.D. Lesko
Read and download Judge Van den Bergh's three-page opinion below:
Vandenbergh_OpinionDownload
Peter B. Fayroian's word may be law of the land at the local private school (Greenhills) where he is the principal, but…
Ypsi Twp. Trustees “Outraged”: The County Prosecutor Is Soft on Gun Crime
by P.D. Lesko
It was dark at 6 a.m. Oct. 8, 2024, when an Ypsilanti Twp. employee arrived for work at the Township’s maintenance building. Spencer Alexander-McCoy Allen, a felon on lifetime parole, ambushed that employee, pointed a…
Greenhills Head of School Accused of Sexual Abuse
by P.D. Lesko
11/4/24 Note: This article has been updated with information from Ann Arbor Police records and an email from Neda Ryan, Chair of the Greenhills Board of Directors.
The August 20, 2024 Ex Parte Order signed by Judge…
A2Indy Wins FOIA Suit: Judge Rules Background Check of Alleged Serial Rapist Hired as a Sheriff’s Deputy Must Be Released
by P.D. Lesko
In June 2024, using money donated by readers to the Ann Arbor Independent's FOIA Fund, the newspaper filed suit in the Washtenaw County Trial Court to compel Washtenaw County to release Sheriff's Deputy D'Angelo…
Ypsi Business Owners Continue to Ask for Improved Downtown Safety: Protesters Demand Free Toilets and Fewer Police
by P.D. Lesko
About 100 people attended the October 15, 2024 Ypsilanti City Council meeting. Inside the Council chambers, protesters repeatedly disrupted Council's efforts to discuss Resolution No. 2024-240 "Directing the city manager…
