News Photo by Reagan Voetberg Thomas Hunter is pictured on Monday in the 26th Circuit Court.

ALPENA — Violet Crane, 21, was scheduled for sentencing on Monday in the 26th Circuit Court in Alpena but that sentencing was adjourned to 9:30 a.m. on March 16.

Crane is charged with one count of unlawful driving away in a motor vehicle, which she pleaded guilty to on Feb. 2 according to MiCourt case search.

She was arrested for that charge at the scene of an officer-involved shooting on Dec. 22 in Alpena. The charge is related to an incident that occurred on Nov. 15 and was unrelated to the events of the shooting.

Judge Ed Black confirmed to The News, and during Crane’s arraignment, that Crane was a passenger in the allegedly stolen vehicle which resulted in the officer-involved shooting that killed a 35-year-old Alpena man.

Crane’s attorney, Ron Bayot, said at Monday’s sentencing that since she had been recently bonded out of jail, he had not had the chance to speak with her about the sentencing. The sentencing was adjourned until 9:30 a.m. on March 16.

THOMAS HUNTER SENTENCING

Thomas Hunter, 36, was sentenced to 12 to 35 years in prison for first degree criminal sexual conduct (CSC)-personal injury. Hunter was found guilty of that charge along with two other charges in a jury trial in November.

For the charge of CSC-assault with intent to commit sexual penetration he received a sentence of 38 months to 10 years, and for a charge of police officer-assaulting/resisting/obstructing he received a sentence of 13 months to two years. All three sentences will be served concurrently.

The assault occurred after Hunter and the victim had spent some time at a bar in Alpena. Hunter drove the victim home, and the assault occurred in his vehicle while they were parked in the victim’s driveway.

Hunter’s defense attorney, Nicole Blank Becker, was not Hunter’s attorney during the trial, but said she has spent an enormous amount of time familiarizing herself with the case.

“I understand there was testimony that may have been disturbing, even very not palatable by those who are listening, but as you know your honor there is many different stories, there’s always the truth and then there’s something between. I think my client is a very easy target.”

Becker explained that the testimony of what is called a 404(b) witness was possibly used to prove propensity. Federal Rule of Evidence 404 (b) prohibits using evidence of a person’s prior crimes, wrongs, or acts to prove their character or show propensity.

Witnesses of past crimes can be called for other evidence–like plan, scheme, and motive–which is what the 404 (b) witness at Hunter’s trial was called for. However, Becker claimed that in her study of the case, she believed that the line may have been crossed in proving propensity as well.

Becker said that there were numerous support letters written for Hunter, all the way down to corrections officers that he dealt with in jail.

“Just simply saying that this monster that he clearly was made out to be, and testified about, is not the person that he actually is,” Becker said about the letters.

Becker said that even at the low end of the sentencing guidelines for the case, she does not believe that the sentence is proportional.

She stated that while Hunter was not her client during the trial, it is her understanding that he wanted to testify but that he was advised by his lawyer at the time, Megan McDonald, to not testify.

“When you’re facing as much time…as he was, he should have the opportunity to be heard,” Becker said.

For Hunter’s offense, the guidelines state a minimum of 126 months in prison, which is ten and a half years. Sentencing guidelines are determined through the scoring of offense variables that measure the severity of a crime.

“I publicly request that this court recognize that this court does have the authority to sentence to a lower guideline range,” Becker said in closing.

Hunter was given a chance to speak before his sentencing.

“I feel like I wasn’t given proper counsel during trial…I wish I would have just stood up and fired them on the spot,” he said about his previous attorney McDonald.

Alpena Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Alyssa Miller opened by asking for a sentence at the top of the guidelines, which is 210 months, equivalent to 17 and a half years in prison.

Miller said that Hunter had allegedly violated bond on multiple occasions, including an incident where he walked into the victim’s workplace and another where he drove by her home with his father.

The 404 (b) witness testified in the trial that she had faced issues of Hunter driving by her house as well.

“This man continued to terrorize these two women throughout…this case,” Miller said.

“Looking towards individualized sentencing, we have to look at everything that Tom Hunter has done,” she said.

Miller said it was relevant to mention that Hunter’s ex-wife supported him during the trial, but once he went back to jail after his conviction, she realized that she is happier without him and could see through his lies, manipulation, and narcissism.

Hunter’s ex-wife had also filed an ex parte motion before the trial stating that there had been abuse in the relationship, Miller said.

“Thomas Hunter continues to terrorize women and he refuses to listen to orders, whether they’re from your honor or whether they’re from the police,” Miller said, addressing Judge Black.

Miller requested that Hunter receive consecutive sentences, with count one for first degree CSC served consecutively to the other two counts. Sentences in Michigan are typically served concurrently.

Miller asked for the court to not consider one of the letters of support for Hunter since most of it contains disparaging comments about the 404 (b) witness with very few comments about Hunter’s character.

The victim in the case gave a victim impact statement, where she said that she has struggled with maintaining employment, mental health issues, and taking care of her children since the assault. Every day she struggles to do basic tasks, she said.

The News does not name victims of sexual assault without their permission.

Judge Black said that Hunter’s past conviction as well as the ex parte motion from his ex-wife show a mentality on his behalf that does not show respect toward the other sex. He sentenced Hunter to 12 years to 35 years in prison with 108 days credit.

Reagan Voetberg. News Staff Writer. rvoetberg@TheAlpenaNews.com.