This is my husband, me, and our children. We are the victims of Judicial and Prosecutorial Misconduct as well as lies and abuse from a major employer in Hastings, Michigan; they do $150-170 Million Dollars in sales every year. My husband is my best friend. I met Ryan when he was 17 and I was 16 years old. I married him when I was 22. He helped shape me into the brave woman I am today.

 

 

 

WHAT HAPPENED?

In May 2022, this company accused my husband of embezzlement. There was never a search of our home or bank accounts. Their story changes over and over.  Read more here.

 

 

 

The person who accused him was his direct report. All they had were spreadsheets and accusations. The spreadsheets were prepared by INTERNAL employees of the company with everything to gain, NOT an impartial forensic accountants. When the company terminated Ryan, they promoted the direct report who turned him in. They knew we have children. They still set out to destroy Ryan's career and our family. I suspect this is because Ryan knew too much and could blow the whistle on them. They also knew they were getting to the end of the line in abusing him.

A executive in the company texted his friend, Michigan State Trooper, Ryan Fras to Investigate. He should have recused himself and he did not. He also was the one who would later request an arrest warrant; incredibly unethical, and should have never, ever happened because of his personal ties and his friend's employer's significant financial benefit.

 

 

 

 

We live on a privately-owned, privately funded and maintained road well-marked by no less than 8 no trespassing signs with 7 other households. POLICE DO NOT PATROL HERE. Ryan Fras ignored all of those signs and WITHOUT A WARRANT banged on our door very early in the morning. This is an outright violation of the Fourth Amendment per People v. Frederick. There is also a Michigan State Police Training Document instructing them NOT to do these things.

Corrupt Judge Michael Schipper of the Barry County Michigan Circuit Court wrongfully imprisoned Ryan through a strong-arm plea bargain. He and Elsworth said if he did not take the plea and instead exercised his constitutional right to go to trial, they would put him away for 20 years.

Plea Bargains in America deny due process, leaving people with no choice but to sign them out of fear of imprisonment. Even if you're innocent - the only way out is through when a prosecutor wants a conviction. This book by Justin Brooks explains how this happens everyday in America. My husband felt he had no choice, and thought the Judge and Prosecutor could be trusted. We were so wrong.

The prosecutor did not document the specific elements of the plea bargain on the plea agreement form on purpose. He has since lied to our Appellate Lawyer about a plea agreement existing at all. There IS one according to Ryan's first, but supremely ineffective lawyer.

This is frowned upon in Michigan Courts:

"We take this opportunity to emphasize that we do not condone such agreements or procedure and in fact strongly disapprove of plea agreements not fully and openly set forth on the record.”

PEOPLE V. HANNOLD, 217 MICH APP 382, 386-387 (1996), ID. AT 387.

Christopher Elsworth outright said, “no jail time.” Ryan was to receive 3 years of probation and participate in a diversion program. The Judge was present and helped develop terms. This is not only considered coercive, but is judicial interference.

 

 

 

 

 

 

When court came into session on January 12, 2023 for sentencing at 10:00 AM, Judge Schipper had never met me and yet began attacking me on court record, accusing me of criminal activity. He railed on, stating I was "oblivious" and "stupid.” Both he and the assistant prosecutor continued threatening me; even threatening to take my home. For a person in a position of power to do this to you in court in a case that is not even yours, is terrifying. Especially when you've done nothing wrong.

My husband's lawyer was not allowed time to speak. Judge Schipper even yelled at him to "sit down." The Judge and Prosecutor also misrepresented information at the hearing, never giving my husband's lawyer a chance to correct anything. This was NOT due process. This violated Fifth and Sixth Amendment Rights. 

Prior to sentencing, Judge Schipper and Christopher Elsworth also knew about Michigan State Police Misconduct and a failed turn-in arrangement. It was in my husband's file. Judge Schipper said, “That’s between you and the Michigan State Police. I don’t care.” 

They knew from those records that I have Complex PTSD from childhood abuse. They attacked me anyway.

It doesn't matter if you try to cooperate to clear things up. The system doesn't care and will treat you like a criminal anyway.

 

 

 

 

 

FlexFab couldn't be bothered to show up for sentencing. Even though they claimed we were “family” to them at one time. They only recently started showing up when I publicly called them out for their cruelty and they thought they could get money. Their story and what they want changes ALL the time. 

When I called out Flexfab for their bad behavior and insurance fraud, they attacked my family. They immediately wanted Ryan prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Real nice, coming from a company who allows people's fingers to be cut off and never compensates them.

In the end, the Judge and Prosecutor not only intimidated and threatened me, but broke my husband's plea agreement and sentenced him, a non-violent, first time offender, to 10-20 years in prison. He did all of this in front of the Editor of the Hastings Banner, which he authorized to be there. 

WHY THIS MATTERS

Because of Judge Schipper and Christopher Elsworth's unprofessional conduct and cruelty, my children will not see their father outside of prison until they are 22-32, or 18-28 if we do not win our appeal.

We did not expect this outcome and had no time to prepare. My 8-year-old son is suffering from severe separation anxiety and is afraid to sleep alone or go anywhere without me. My 12-year-old daughter is anxious and depressed. My husband has been there everyday of my children's lives. Judge Michael Schipper and FlexFab ripped their father away without warning.

They stole a husband from a wife and a father from two children. And they patted themselves on the back for this dishonesty. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Please join me in signing this petition.

Join me in demanding that Judge Michael Schipper takes responsibility and fixes his mistake by freeing Ryan, and most importantly, allowing him to come home safe.