Former Ann Arbor area attorney loses challenge to Supreme Court ruling on drug-related charges
A former Ann Arbor attorney charged in the overdose death of an Ypsilanti woman in his apartment lost his challenge to a Michigan State Supreme Court ruling reinstating felony charges, officials said.
Ron Plunkett and his legal team made a bid for a hearing to challenge a State Supreme Court ruling that reinstated felony drug delivery charges stemming from 22-year-old Tiffany Gregory’s death in 2006.
Court records indicate a recent hearing during which a trial date was to be set was postponed while Plunkett asked the high court to reconsider. On Thursday, the state Supreme Court ruled it will not reconsider that order.
Ron Plunkett
In a 4-3 decision issued last month, the justices found both the Washtenaw County circuit judge and state appellate judges that reviewed the case wrongly determined there was not enough probable cause for Plunkett to stand trial. It is the first case to challenge a state law aimed at punishing drug providers in cases of fatal overdoses.
Plunkett, 54, is accused of providing the transportation and money used to obtain the heroin that killed Gregory, a U.S. Army National Guard medic. The former Ann Arbor city attorney remains free and is on probation for a drug possession conviction stemming from the same case.
It's unclear when Plunkett will stand trial on the charges.
Art Aisner is a freelance writer for AnnArbor.com. Reach the news desk at news@annarbor.com or 734-623-2530.
Comments
miss tracy ann
Mon, Aug 30, 2010 : 12:03 a.m.
wow, this may befar fetched or ludacris but i think when someone does something, even if it was a mistake, they need to take resposibility for their actions. listening to all of these people defend "him" makes me sick...yes hes clean and sober and thats great...but it does not erase the past. if anything i would think that his sobriety would make him want to do the next right thing and take responsibility...thats what recovery taught me. now for all of you people defending him..why dont you put yourselfs in tiffanys familys shoes just for one day to see how you would feel if you were them? yes its a crazy concept, i know. i am no angel, but i did take responsibilty for my actions of what happened on that night that my friend lost her life and i have learned a valuable lesson. no iam not perfect but i try to be the best honest woman i can every day. i will be at his sentencing on sept 13...and im not even sure why. no i have no vendetta towards him or want to see him go to jail...just to take responsibility for what he did and that wont even happen because they dropped the charges giving him exactly what he wants
Tom Joad
Mon, Jul 5, 2010 : 9:44 a.m.
apparently Pulp Fiction made no lasting impact on the counselor
masticate
Tue, May 18, 2010 : 12:52 p.m.
This tragedy was not Ron's fault more than any other person involved. You cannot blame him for the death of this woman because it was her decision to take the drugs. I know it's hard to reconcile with, but the fact that Ms. Gregory took them herself puts the consequences in her own hands.
An
Tue, May 18, 2010 : 12:30 p.m.
His actions killed my friend.
Mike D.
Mon, May 17, 2010 : 7:13 p.m.
There has to be a vendetta here. Why else would this prosecutor go after someone who gave a ride to someone who bought drugs for someone who herself then accidentally overdosed? That's just too far removed for any reasonable person to call it a crime. Tragedy? Yes. Intent? No. This trial is a waste of time and money. Full disclosure, I did business with Ron a decade ago, and he was a stand-up guy.
friend12
Mon, May 17, 2010 : 9:23 a.m.
Mr. Aisner might want to check current news before posting an article next time. This is very old news and as Ann Arbor Courts Examiner noted, the state Supreme Court has already declined to rehear the case. The only delay might be a challenge through federal court.
WashtenawCountyCourtsExaminer
Mon, May 17, 2010 : 9:05 a.m.
The Michigan Supreme Court denied the motion for rehearing last Thursday: http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-28045-Ann-Arbor-Courts-Examiner~y2010m5d16-Michigan-Supreme-Court-denies-motion-for-rehearing-in-heroin-case
just a homeowner
Mon, May 17, 2010 : 8:25 a.m.
This is such a waste of taxpayers' money. Why is the prosecutor hanging on to this? The details say it's not worth it, given that the cost of prosecuting and incarcerating someone costs a bundle. There are sex offenders actively preying on children, and people stealing and worse, doing it now. Prosecute those, not some guy who happened to buy drugs that another addict took.
oldrustynail
Mon, May 17, 2010 : 7:25 a.m.
"the Ann Arbor city attorney remains free..." Criminal lawyers were all pretzel makers in former lives. Given enough dough they can twist anything.
Watching
Mon, May 17, 2010 : 7:17 a.m.
He was an assistant city attorney, not the city attorney.
Craig Lounsbury
Mon, May 17, 2010 : 6:59 a.m.
"a state law aimed at punishing drug providers in cases of fatal overdoses." Does that law include Pfizer and their peeps? The problem with the "war" on drugs is that its really a "war" on bad choices. Its a "war" that cannot be won.