Allegation 7: Improper Sentencing

Summary:

After finally getting around to sentencing me for civil contempt, despite her denial of my right to a fair evidentiary hearing (Allegation 5), I believe Judge Longsworth imposed an improper sentence on me, violating MCL 600.1715 which limits the punishment for civil contempt to 93 days in jail and/or a fine.

I believe she simultaneously violated Michigan Code of Judicial Conduct- Canon 3 (14), which restricts a judge to “the usual and accepted methods of doing justice; avoid the imposition of humiliating acts or discipline, not authorized by law in sentencing and endeavor to conform to a reasonable standard of punishment…”.

I believe she also violated Contempt of Court Benchbook, 5th Edition, 1.2, which states that when punishing for contempt, courts must exercise “the least possible power adequate to the end proposed[.]” Anderson v Dunn, 19 US 204, 231 (1821). See also In re Contempt of Dudzinski, 257 Mich App at 109

Details:

After denying my right to an evidentiary hearing for a civil contempt allegation, Judge Longsworth found me guilty of contempt (Allegation 5).

She then sentenced me almost one full year later, on 7/18/2025 (Allegation 6).

Her sentencing did not adhere to the allowable guidelines, veering wildly outside of the norm. My sentence[1] included:

· A jail sentence of unlimited duration, granting to the defendant sole control over my release date

· A fine

· Ordered me to reimburse the defendants court costs

· Ordered me to hand over the marital home, for which I had exclusive use for the past 1.5 years, which contained all my personal belongings

· My children to be sent out of state to a reunification camp, Turning Points for Families.

This overly harsh, inappropriate sentence was outside of legal guidelines. It also failed to comply with the requirement to use the least amount of force necessary, as I had already fully complied with the order prior to the initial hearing on 8/22/2024, one year earlier.

[1] Exhibit 6: 7/18/25 Order