ELECT
Deborah J. Davis
for Prosecutor
VOTE AUGUST 6TH
PROSECUTION HIGHLIGHTS...
As an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney (APA) in St. Joseph County, Deborah J. Davis was entrusted with prosecution of the most heinous sex crimes and child pornography cases in addition to domestic violence, strangulation, and other assaultive special victim crimes. Many cases resulted in lengthy prison sentences, with felony CSC and CSAM cases resulting in an average MINIMUM sentence of approximately 12 years in prison. The MAXIMUM prison often ranged from 15 years to life in prison.
Several cases handled by Deborah were covered by media, highlighting the significant punishment for those convicted. One factor in criminal sentencing is sending a message to others of the seriousness of committing these crimes. By holding criminals accountable for their actions, Deborah J. Davis sent a clear message that their conduct would not be tolerated in St. Joseph County.
Deborah conducted more than five (5) times the number of criminal trials as the current elected Prosecutor in her three years working as an APA.
In addition, she conducted dozens more felony preliminary examinations than the elected Prosecutor. Deborah's extensive knowledge of court rules specific to victim crimes, ability to quickly build rapport with victims, and confidence in the courtroom resulted in a multitude of cases being bound over to Circuit Court. Deborah's expertise during the critical first stages of felony cases often set the framework for successful resolution whether by plea agreement or after jury trial.
CASE CODES
CSAM: Child Sexually Abuse Material or Child Sexually Abusive Activity, a/k/a child pornography. Includes possession or manufacturing of CSAM. Click below to link to specific statutes.
CSC: Criminal Sexual Conduct, includes 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th degree, with 1st being the most serious. Victims could be infants through elderly. Click below to link to the specific statutes.
DV: Domestic Violence, which are assaultive crimes perpetrated against someone the Defendant has or had a dating or marriage relationship, have a child in common, or have resided in the same household. The 1st offense is a 93-day misdemeanor, 2nd is 1-year misdemeanor, and 3rd or subsequent is a 5-year felony.
KEY FELONY CASES prosecuted by
DEBORAH J. DAVIS
Defendant
CONVICTION(S)
mINIMUM SENTENCE
CASE
DETAILS
Kirk H. JURY VERDICT--Guilty as Charged 8 years-22.5 years
CSC 3rd degree, Victim age 13-15 MDOC/prison
as a Habitual 2nd felony offender
Must register as
Sex Offender on SORA
Adalberto G. JURY VERDICT--Guilty as Charged 3 years-22.5 years for
Count 1: Felony Use of a Computer Count 1
with Another to Commit a Felony
Count 2: Aggravated Possession of CSAM 3 years to 15 years for
Count 3: Aggravated Possession of CSAM Counts 2 & 3
Habitual 2nd felony offender. Defendant
was also on Felony Probation for a CSC Lifetime Registration
at the time of these offenses. on SORA
Defendant's appeal to the Michigan
Court of Appeals was DENIED and his
CONVICTIONS AFFIRMED by the COA.
Benjamin W. CONVICTION BY PLEA
Count 1: CSC 2nd Degree, Victim age 13-15 11 years to 22.5 years
Count 2: Felony Use of a Computer to MDOC/prison Commit a Crime of 10-15 years
Count 3: Possession of CSAM Lifetime SORA
Registration
Defendant has prior CSC conviction,
and Failure to Register on SORA
Raymond S. CONVICTION BY PLEA
Count 1: CSC 3rd degree (incest) 5 years to 15 years
Count 2: CSC 2nd degree, Victim Under 13 MDOC/prison
Delayed report by victim, offenses Lifetime SORA
occurred between 2010-2014, Registration
no physical evidence available.
Charged, Convicted, and Sentenced in 2021
Robby B. CONVICTION BY PLEA
Count 1: Fleeing & Eluding Police 5 years to 20 years
Habitual Offender 4th MDOC/prison --high speed chase from Three Rivers to Kalamazoo and back
--Defense's Motion to Dismiss was DENIED after response and
brief filed by APA Davis, and hearing conducted by APA Davis
--Defendant's post-conviction appeal DENIED
Jerry D. CONVICTION BY PLEA 5 years, 11 months-15 years
Count 1: CSC 2nd degree as a Repeat MDOC/prison
Sexual Offender LIFETIME SORA
Count 2: DV REGISTRATION
--Delayed report by two victims who became uncooperative
prior to trial
--Offenses dated back to 2007
--Reported in 2021, Convicted 2022
David M. CONVICTION BY PLEA
Count 1: CSC 2nd degree, Victim Under 13 12 years-30 years as Habitual 3rd felony offender MDOC/prison
Defendant's appeal for Judge Lifetime SORA
exceeding sentencing guidelines DENIED Registration
Jason F.
(Cass County)
Jury Trial--GUILTY AS CHARGED
APA Davis was sworn in by Cass County Prosecutor Victor Fitz to conduct the trial on behalf of his office with only two (2) weeks to prepare. APA Davis was able to avoid an adjournment for the trial which had already been adjourned multiple times due to the pandemic restrictions.
Count 1: CSC 1st degree, Victim under 13
Count 2: CSC 1st degree, Victim under 13
Count 3: CSC 1st degree, Victim under 13
Count 4: CSC 2nd degree, Victim under 13
Count 5: CSC 2nd degree, Victim under 13
Count 6: CSC 2nd degree, Victim under 13
Defendant's post-conviction appeal DENIED
25 years - 50 years
MDOC/prison
each for Counts 1-3, concurrent
7 years - 15 years
MDOC/prison
each for Counts 4-6, concurrent
Lifetime SORA Registration
Matthew B.
GLOBAL PLEA OFFER CONVICTION
(DEFENDANT HAD 4 OPEN CASES)
Count 1: Possession of Meth as 4th habitual
Count 2: DV 3rd offense as 4th habitual
Count 3: Felonious Assault as 4th habitual
Count 4: Witness Intimidation as 4th habitual
Count 5: Witness Intimidation as 4th habitual
Count 6: Unlawful Imprisonment as 4th habitual
Count 7: DV 3rd as 4th habitual
Count 8: Assault by Strangulation as 4th habitual
3 years, 8 months - 40 years
MDOC/prison
each for Counts 1-8, concurrent
Rocky G.
CONVICTION BY PLEA
Count 1: CSC 1st degree
Count 2: Unlawful Imprisonment
both as 2nd habitual offender
30 years - 60 years
MDOC/prison for Count 1
10 years to 22.5 years
MDOC/prison for Count 2
concurrent
SORA REGISTRATION
Duboyd A.
CONVICTION BY PLEA
Count 1: CSC 2nd Degree, Victim under age 13
as 2nd habitual offender
Defendant also convicted of CSC in Cass Co.
Ronald T.
CONVICTION BY PLEA
Count 1: CSC 2nd Degree, Victim under age 13
Joshua B.
CONVICTION BY PLEA
Count 1: DV by Strangulation
Count 2: Obstruction of Justice
Count 3: Witness Tampering
--Victim died from alleged overdose prior to prelim and prior to charging the Obstruction and Tampering. APA Davis insisted on going forward despite having no complaining witness and effectively used the Michigan Court Rules, Rules of Evidence, and statutes to bring justice to the victim's family.
6 years - 15 years
MDOC/prison
LIFETIME SORA
REGISTRATION
3 years, 2 mos. - 15 years
MDOC/prison
LIFETIME SORA
REGISTRATION
3 years, 2 mos. - 7.5 years
MDOC/prison
Brad J.
CONVICTION BY PLEA
Count 1: Assault with Intent to Commit
CSC 2nd degree as a 2nd habitual offender
--Defendant sat for nearly two years and refused to come out of his jail cell to participate in court proceedings. He filed in Federal Court for relief but was denied.
--Defendant was facing more serious CSC charges in Jackson County, Michigan, and upon plea was able to be moved from the jail to MDOC and face the charges in Jackson County.
2 years, 10 mos. - 15 years
MDOC/prison
LIFETIME GPS MONITORING
LIFETIME SORA
REGISTRATION
Efrain L.-J.
CONVICTION BY PLEA AS CHARGED
Count 1: Leaving the Scene of an Accident involving a Death
Count 2: Operating While Intoxicated Causing Death
Count 3: Driving While License Suspended Causing Death
--Defendant is not in the U.S. legally, and caused a car crash that killed a baby and injured the child's mother. Defendant was intoxicated, speeding, did not have a valid license, and attempted to flee the scene of the crash.
7 years-15 years
MDOC/prison
Subject to deportation upon completion of prison sentence
Previously deported in 2019
Clayton W.
CONVICTION BY PLEA
Count 1: CSC 1st degree, Victim under 13
Count 2: Aggravated CSAM
Count 3: CSAM
--Defendant was ordered CONSECUTIVE sentences as requested by APA Davis at sentencing.
31 years-70 years
MDOC/prison for Count 1
13 years-25 years
MDOC/prison for Count 2
13 years-20 years
MDOC/prison for Count 3
CONSECUTIVE
Not eligible for parole until 2066
Whether convicted by trial or plea agreement...
serious felonies should result in SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES.
What does
Deborah Davis
have
the other candidates
don't?
-
Jury Trial experience in both defending and prosecuting serious capital felony cases during her career, including murder trials and sexual abuse of minor children.
-
Forensic Experiential Trauma Interview (FETI) certification.
-
Extensive experience in conducting preliminary examination hearings, as both a defense attorney and a prosecutor.
-
Over a decade of experience in criminal law as a defense attorney in St. Joseph, Branch, Kalamazoo, Mason, and Wayne County Courts.
-
Nearly two decades of experience in property law, estates, trusts, and divorce/custody matters.
-
The ability to recruit and retain quality employees, as well as manage and motivate them to succeed.
-
Hours of training from the Prosecuting Attorney's Association of Michigan (PAAM) in the last three years that was not required, but was self-motivated.