Augusta Township clerk free on bond after not guilty plea
Two days after a warrant was issued for her arrest, Augusta Township Clerk Kathy Giszczak turned herself in to authorities Wednesday and was arraigned in district court on two eavesdropping charges.
Giszczak said she pleaded not guilty after taking advantage of the “walk-in arraignment” time period between 9 and 10 a.m. at the 14A District Court.
The whole process only took a few minutes, she said.
“It’s new, it’s interesting, it’s a whole new world for me,” she said of the legal process.
Giszczak didn’t want to comment any further, but did reiterate the statement she released to AnnArbor.com Tuesday: that she plans to “vigorously defend herself” and that the recording at the heart of the case was made in a public place, and therefore not against the law.
Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Derrick Jackson said Giszczak didn’t spend any time in jail, and no booking photo was taken.
Jackson said defendants with non-violent charges who opt for a walk-in arraignment sometimes aren’t processed through the jail.
“It’s not uncommon,” he said.
Giszczak remains free on a personal recognizance bond, which doesn’t require any monetary payment and is generally given to defendants who are not considered a flight risk.
The official charges read against her Wednesday are eavesdropping and divulging information, both felonies punishable by up to two years in prison and/or a $2,000 fine.
Police and prosecutors are accusing Giszczak of willfully using a device “to eavesdrop upon the private conversation of Janice Blair and/or Peter Hafler, without the consent of all the parties thereto,” according to court documents.
The content of the recording had to do with “the use of funds at the township” as well as the job performance of employees in the treasurer's office, Jackson said.
Then-deputy treasurer Blair was fired after Gisczak allegedly played the recording for former township Treasurer Angela Sherbine. Hafler was township supervisor at the time.
Giszczak waived her right to have a preliminary examination within 14 days. The exam will take place at 8:30 a.m. on May 29.
John Counts covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at johncounts@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.
Comments
altruty
Thu, May 3, 2012 : 11:42 p.m.
Private conversation in a public place? No such thing.
Average Joe
Fri, Jun 8, 2012 : 8:18 p.m.
The supervisors office in a public building is a private place, unless you work with this Gizczak, then plan on having every word you say recorded and every move you make video taped
simmiejones@yahoo.com
Thu, May 3, 2012 : 3:06 p.m.
What if the scenario on this incident were different. Some have said when KG found she had accidentally left the recorder on and captured a "private" conversation in a public place, she should have erased the tape and shut up. But what if she had accidentally captured a conversation between 2 people plotting to bomb a place, rob a place or murder someone. Should she have erased it or gone to the authorities? Would she be a criminal for accidentally recording the conversation, or would she be a hero for uncovering a plot?
Average Joe
Fri, Jun 8, 2012 : 8:16 p.m.
What if her whole purpose was to record these two individuals, and then lie claming it was a public conversation..... Where are the other two elected officials that used this illegal recording to fire this employee, they should be held accountable too!
and9801
Thu, May 3, 2012 : 3:08 a.m.
This is just business as usual in Augusta Township. There is more fighting among township officials than there is working to better the township or provide basic services to its residents. What a person promises before being elected here doesn't matter within 6 months of "having power". Don't believe me? Come and try living here.
chris crawley
Thu, May 3, 2012 : 12:27 p.m.
so then you are saying we need a new power group in office? Can any random bunch of residents do any worse?
altruty
Thu, May 3, 2012 : 2:58 a.m.
Supervisor Hafler is just one member of the Board ot Trustees. He does not OWN the township as he believes. As "Legal Agent", this is nothing more than he is REQUIRED to sign the legal documents that the Board approves. He has refused this over a very long period of time. This whole thing is nothing more than an election year stunt.
Average Joe
Fri, Jun 8, 2012 : 8:13 p.m.
This Clerk Gizczak made her illegal recording in 2010, the wheels of justice just turn slowly
chris crawley
Thu, May 3, 2012 : 12:26 p.m.
you are partially correct he nor the board of trustees own the township. We do and it is evidently that they all have to be replaced. he is not handling this well. That there tells us something. though what?
Michigan Reader
Thu, May 3, 2012 : 1:13 a.m.
She had already admitted to the act. She says it's not a crime, so she pled not guilty.
ann Sole
Wed, May 2, 2012 : 11:35 p.m.
so she admitts to the crime? Is hafler not supervisor any more, was he fired also?
Average Joe
Fri, Jun 8, 2012 : 8:10 p.m.
You can't fire an elected official! The Clerk admits to making the recording, but says she didnt do anything wrong
kraiford12
Thu, May 3, 2012 : 1:11 a.m.
Says she plead Not Guilty