A Berrien County Trial Court employee who was accused of forming a relationship with a probationer pled guilty March 31 to charges stemming from the incident.

Jessica Holmes, 35, of Eau Claire, will be sentenced by Judge John Donahue on May 1, after being charged with delivery of a controlled substance, a 20-year maximum and obstruction of justice, a 5-year maximum. Holmes was also originally charged with criminal sexual conduct, but that charge was later dismissed pursuant to a plea agreement, according to Berrien County Prosecuting Attorney Michael Sepic.

Holmes was a 16-year veteran with Berrien County Trial Court and had worked with many of the judges and employees. Holmes served as a courtroom clerk and had recently been promoted to program director for the probation supervision program Swift and Sure. The crimes were said to have occurred between the months of August and September, shortly after the courtroom shooting in St. Joseph, according to Berrien County Prosecutor Michael Sepic.
Holmes’ charge for delivery of a controlled substance stems from the allegation that she delivered Norco to a probationer to sell on her behalf, according to the prosecutor’s office. The pain pill is a schedule two controlled substance.
Holmes was also believed to have provided confidential scheduling information about the drug test
colors, which indicate when a probationer will have to come in and be tested for drugs and alcohol. This allegation led to the charge for obstruction to justice.
“She was disclosing when his color was coming up,” Sepic said.
With this information, Sepic said the probationer could potentially have time to use alcohol or drugs and get clean before the next test.
In order to have a fair and balanced sentence, 10 of the judges who had worked with Holmes over the years had to disqualify themselves from the case.
When a judge feels that there is a conflict of interest in sentencing someone who they may know, they are allowed to pass on the case, Sepic said.
As a result, Berrien County Trial Court Judge John Donahue, who works in the civil division, will be sentencing her.
Holmes’ pre-sentence investigation will not be conducted by Berrien County officials. Instead, Cass County will handle the investigation, which will gather information on Holmes’ background and anything else that might help the judge determine her sentence, Sepic said. The investigation is scheduled to take place a week before the trial.
The name of the probationer could not be disclosed, Sepic said. He will not need to move facilities because he no longer has any contact with Holmes.