By By JOHN EBY / Dowagiac Daily News
A $5,000 cash/surety bond was revoked and a bench warrant issued for his arrest Monday afternoon by Circuit Judge Michael E. Dodge when Marcellus Village President Allen Fisk failed to appear in court.
Dodge declared Fisk, 45, a fugitive.
Cass County Prosecutor Victor A. Fitz said Fisk failed to appear for a 1:30 p.m. hearing on a motion by Dowagiac attorney Thomas Swisher to withdraw as attorney.
Fitz said his office earlier filed a motion to revoke Fitz's bond based upon new charges filed in Fourth District Court.
That matter had been scheduled to be heard at 1:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 29.
Additional criminal charges were brought Aug. 12 by Fitz's office against Fisk, who was charged with false pretenses $200 or more but less than $1,000 from the Marcellus News.
It was charged that Fisk used a Marcellus News bank account to electronically pay his July 2005 home mortgage payment of $925.36.
An alternative count of larceny $200 or more but less than $1,000 had also been filed in that case.
These misdemeanors are charged with taking place on July 17 while Fisk was free on bond in his Circuit Court case.
On April 27, Fisk was charged by Fitz's office with embezzlement of $1,000 to $20,000 from Trinity Bible Church, 397 Elm St., Marcellus.
An alternative count of larceny by conversion $1,000 to $20,000 has also been filed. These crimes are charged with taking place from May 2002 through February 2005.
Fisk was arraigned May 2, when the $5,000 cash/surety bond was set.
His trial was scheduled for Sept. 13.
Also, on May 17, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Michigan received a grand jury indictment against Fisk for unlawfully devising a scheme to defraud the Internal Revenue Service and 10 private taxpayers with money, funds, credits and similar property rights.
A motion to revoke bond in that matter was filed by the U.S. Attorney's Office and slated for today, Aug. 23.