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Crime
No Background Checks In This Local School District: Superintendent Welcomes Felon-Volunteers
by P.D. Lesko
Public records revealed that the Lincoln Consolidated Schools in Ypsilanti has no policies or procedures that require background checks on volunteers. State law requires public schools to background check employees,…
Ricky Dewayne McCain Didn’t Act Alone in the Murder of Jude Walton–He Had Help
by P.D. Lesko
According to Trial Court case files, on April 20, 2005 Hilary J. was a rising senior at the University of Michigan. With two roommates, she rented an apartment at 832 Packard Ave. On that evening, Hilary was in her…
County’s Chief Asst. Prosecutor Owes Thousands in Campaign Finance Fines Related to Failed Run
This article was made possible by donations to the Ann Arbor Independent FOIA Fund. Click here to donate.
by P.D. Lesko
Campaign finance statements show that Washtenaw County's Chief Asst. Prosecutor Victoria…
Chair of County Commission Slams Citizens Who Question Fraudulent $1.2M Grant to Felons’ Non-Profit
This article was made possible by donations to the Ann Arbor Independent FOIA Fund. Click here to donate. Washtenaw County charged a fee to release the pubic records used in this article.
by P.D. Lesko
At…
“Men Like Us” Club Founder Asked County for $70K Grant to “Deter Youth Violence”; His Ypsi Twp. Club the Site of Assaults, Shootings, Attempted Murder
According to police records, since late-2021, the Men Like Us club building owned by Ardis Lewis, Jr. has been the site of shootings, assaults, attempted murder and an alleged sexual assault. In Mar. 2022, Lewis applied to the County for a…
Ypsilanti Superintendent Says County Contractor Sent Felons to Middle School Without Permission
by P.D. Lesko
Correction: YCS School Board member Dr. Celeste Hawkins was inadvertently identified as the YCS spokesman who contacted The Ann Arbor Independent on March 14 by phone and spoke on the record. The article has been updated,…
County Administrator Implicates Himself and Commissioners in Misappropriation of Federal Funds
by P.D. Lesko
Long-time Detroit News crime reporter George Hunter picked up the Ann Arbor Independent's reporting on the fraudulent grant application submitted to Washtenaw County by local non-profit Supreme Felons, Inc. for $1.2…
Non-Profit Supreme Felons, Inc. Owed Thousands in Fines to IRS When County Commissioners Awarded $1.2M Grant
by P.D. Lesko
Supreme Felons, Inc., a local non-profit that was awarded $1.2 million in federal funding by the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners in July 2022, has never filed state or federal tax returns, public records show.…
Assailant Who Allegedly Tried to Stab Local Restauranteur Scheduled For Competency Hearing
by P.D. Lesko
On Nov. 3, 2022 Javon Trevail Williams appeared before 15th District Court judge the Honorable Miriam A. Perry. At that hearing, it was decided that Williams, who is currently being held on a $150,000 cash bond, will be…
Assaulted Part 3: My Assailant Isn’t Getting the Emoni Bates Concierge Service Prosecution
by P.D. Lesko
On Dec. 23, 2021, I was the victim of a hate crime. Today, the County Asst. Prosecutor informed me that the charge of misdemeanor assault facing the assailant will be dropped. This is good news. Replacing the charge of…