Michelle Elowski

ALPENA — Alpena attorney Michelle Elowski appealed the contempt of court ruling she received on Monday that gave her 45 days in jail for abruptly leaving a civil court proceeding in November.

Elowski filed with the Michigan Court of Appeals on Friday, receiving three granted motions for immediate consideration, waiving the transcript requirement, and staying the enforcement of judgment of contempt pending the appeal.

The granted motion to stay allows Elowski to stay out of jail until the court resolves the appeal.

During her sentencing for contempt of court in 88th District Court on Monday, Elowski testified that she inappropriately spent at least a portion of the $270,000 she had in her control for a private trust. She did not specify how she spent the money.

Elowski’s jail time for contempt is separate from an embezzlement case, in which Elowski is charged, that is also moving forward.

In Oscoda County, Elowski is charged with two counts of common law fraud, one count of check fraud with non-sufficient funds of $500 or more, one count of embezzlement by a trustee of $1,000 or more but less than $20,000, and one count of embezzlement by a trustee of $50,000 or more but less than $100,000.

Elowski does not have her driver’s license or passport and must wear a tether because of her bond requirements for the criminal case.