Cloudy / 58° FTownship trustee pleads guilty to indecent exposure
Published 5:00am Saturday, April 10, 2010By JESSICA SIEFF
Niles Daily Star
Editor’s Note: The Star was able to view court documents detailing the alleged events that led to the arrest of Niles Township Trustee Michael Bailey. Those details, however, are being withheld in order to protect the identity of the victim.
Niles Township Trustee Michael Bailey, 37, pleaded guilty in Berrien County Court Friday afternoon to indecent exposure.
The charges stem from an incident reported to the Michigan State Police on Feb. 26.
According to court documents, Bailey was arrested and released on $500 bond. Those documents define the count of indecent exposure as Bailey “did knowingly make an open or indecent exposure of his or her person.”
Judge Scott Schofield listened to an account of the incident in question spoken by Bailey, verifying with the defendant that his “penis was exposed and (the victim) could have felt it or seen it.”
Details of just what transpired to lead to Bailey’s arrest are still sketchy. The Star has requested a full police report from the Michigan State Police, which handled the arrest.
The charge is considered a misdemeanor that carries a possibility of one year in jail or $1,000 fine. Following the plea, Bailey addressed the court, saying he was sorry to waste the court’s time “for not doing the right thing on my part.”
Schofield said the matter was not a waste of time.
“We’re doing something really important here, Mr. Bailey,” he said. “We’re protecting (the victim) from you.”
Bailey was put on probation and ordered to pay various fees and costs in the amount of $1,200, as well as 50 hours of community service.
The Niles Township government official was also ordered to be evaluated as to whether or not sex offender counseling would be needed, and Schofield said no contact is to be had between Bailey and his victim – a restriction that would be reviewed following consultation with officials, the documents said.
According to one of two Niles Township Web sites, www.nilestwpmi.gov, Bailey is a 1991 graduate of Brandywine High School who graduated with auto honors. The site said he has worked in the auto industry for 20 years and is currently employed at a Niles-based auto service company. He has lived in Niles for 31 years and has held a reserve officer position for six years, the Web site said.
Bailey was also ordered to submit to a mental health evaluation and “comply with any suggested treatment.”
Mr. Bailey needs to RESIGN his position with Niles Township. NOW! This type of behavior is unacceptable!
I wonder what the original charges were before they were reduced for the plea bargain.
Bailey needs to go. No woman should have to be in a room with him for public business. He must resign.