By By JOHN EBY / Niles Daily Star
CASSOPOLIS - Cass County Commissioner David P. Taylor, D-Edwardsburg, pleaded no contest late Wednesday afternoon to domestic violence before visiting Berrien County Judge Gary Bruce in Fourth District Court.
The plea agreement to the misdemeanor came during a status conference for the trial, which has now been averted.
The charge resulted from a Jan. 14 incident at their home in Ontwa Township in which Taylor allegedly punched his wife of 32 years, Mary Ann Crete, in the face. Both had been drinking.
The court treats such a plea as an admission of guilt. Bruce accepted the no-contest plea based on the potential for civil liability.
As part of the plea agreement reached with special prosecutor Jennifer Smith, a Berrien County assistant prosecutor, Taylor, credited for the day he spent in jail following his arrest, will be placed on nine months probation.
As a first-time offender, a Michigan statute allows Taylor to complete batterer intervention counseling, which if successful could see the conviction wiped from his record.
Bruce also imposed an order on Taylor to avoid alcohol.
Orders usually include no contact with the victim, but Smith did not feel it necessary to include that provision. Smith felt confident that if Crete felt her safety was threatened, she would summon police.
Smith and Bruce were appointed to the case when local court officials, including Prosecutor Victor Fitz and Judges Paul Deats and Michael Dodge, bowed out because of the potential conflict of interest hearing a proceeding against Taylor, who is both a county commissioner and an attorney who practices law here.
Crete did not comment during court, but offered reporters a handwritten statement: "David Taylor has served the public well for many years. His constituents should be thankful for his service. Our personal affairs are not public affairs."
Bruce relied on the police report prepared by Officer John Sailor of the Edwardsburg/Ontwa Township Police Department for the factual basis for the plea.
Responding to their Lakeview Drive home shortly after midnight, the officer encountered Crete, who said her husband assaulted her.
She had three to four red marks around her right eye and nose where the close-handed blow pressed her glasses into her face.
Bruce called it an "unfortunate situation" and expressed hope that they could improve their communication for the benefit of their family.
Taylor apologized to his colleagues "for any embarrassment caused by my recent personal problems" at the close of the Jan. 20 commissioner's session.
Absent the plea deal, domestic assault is punishable by 93 days in jail and/or a $500 fine.