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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.

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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

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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. 

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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.

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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.

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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

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                                                            Defendant's appeal to the Michigan

                                                            Court of Appeals was DENIED and his

                                                            CONVICTIONS AFFIRMED by the COA.

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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

 

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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

 

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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

Bowers MDOC.png

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

Dowell MDOC.png

         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                                                                                     

McQueen Appeal.png

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. 

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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

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Defendant's post-conviction appeal DENIED

Victor Fitz.letter.heic

CLICK HERE 
to see the post-trial letter from Cass County Prosecutor Victor Fitz

25 years - 50 years

MDOC/prison

each for Counts 1-3, concurrent 

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7 years - 15 years

MDOC/prison

each for Counts 4-6, concurrent

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Lifetime SORA Registration

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Matthew B.

GLOBAL PLEA OFFER CONVICTION

(DEFENDANT HAD 4 OPEN CASES)

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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 

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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

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10 years to 22.5 years

MDOC/prison for Count 2

concurrent 

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SORA REGISTRATION

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Duboyd A.

CONVICTION BY PLEA

Count 1: CSC 2nd Degree, Victim under age 13

as 2nd habitual offender

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Defendant also convicted of CSC in Cass Co.

Ronald T.

CONVICTION BY PLEA

Count 1: CSC 2nd Degree, Victim under age 13

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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.

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6 years - 15 years

MDOC/prison 

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LIFETIME SORA

REGISTRATION

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3 years, 2 mos. - 15 years

MDOC/prison 

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LIFETIME SORA

REGISTRATION

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3 years, 2 mos. -  7.5 years

MDOC/prison 

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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

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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.

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7 years-15 years

MDOC/prison

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Subject to deportation upon completion of prison sentence

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Previously deported in 2019

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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

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Not eligible for parole until 2066

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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.


Deborah Davis has the knowledge, skills, experience, integrity, and determination to clean up St. Joseph County, one case at a time.

SEE WHAT COLLEAGUES HAVE TO SAY ABOUT DEBORAH J. DAVIS...

A true leader for law enforcement with common sense solutions...

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Answering the questions of law enforcement timely and accurately...

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Bringing common sense solutions to the table for effective, efficient resolution of cases.

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