Advertisement

Monday morning Circuit Court Judge Donald Teeple sentenced the 45-year old Frankenmuth resident to 150 days in jail, 75 of which Turner may serve in community service. Turner may also have work release. He must pay restitution - the amount will be determined at a hearing.

Teeple noted Turner had no criminal record prior to this offense and his children and wife, who has serious medical problems, do not want him to go to jail.

However, "it is imperative that I impose some jail time. You were trusted with public funds and you violated that trust. You stole from every citizen in Sanilac County... Otherwise so far you have been a stellar citizen, but there needs to be some consequences to deter you and others," Teeple emphasized.

Med-Control Chairman Ed Gamache told the court prior to the sentence that Turner's actions "will make it more difficult to secure the millage funding. Unfortunately med-control has been damaged by this activity".

Later Gamache told the News, "we hope this brings it to closure. We will continue the work of med-control, letting the citizens know what we do and that it is important to renew the millage". The millage renewal will be on the August ballot.

Turner told the judge, "I am very proud of med-control. I worked very hard for 15 year... to build it up... It was my baby".

St. Clair County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Michael Hulewicz, who prosecuted the case, commented that, "I didn't feel he took ownership of what he did, and what he did put the (med-control) authority at risk".

Turner's lawyer Mile Gildner maintained pleading guilty to embezzlement proved Turner took 100% ownership of the wrong-doing.

"He is a devoted family man and a well respected man in the community. Certainly he did wrong... He is embarrassed by it. It harmed his family and the agency", said Gildner.

Turner pled guilty as charged to embezzlement by a public official over $50 in Sanilac County Circuit Court in April. Unlike most criminal cases, there was no plea bargain. The maximum punishment for that offense is 10 years in prison.

Hulewicz didn't offer a plea because he didn't think it was appropriate.

According to the 2006-2007 med-control debit card records, Turner made more than $72,000 worth of purchases over 14 months on a debit card the med-control board didn't know he had. Turner's purchases ranged from ammunition at Jay's Sporting Goods in Gaylord on Nov. 14 to a sewing machine, which he told State Police Detective Brian Ferguson he bought to repair his uniforms.

Turner and Gildner turned over 61 items ranging from Bissell carpet cleaners, televisions, and computer equipment to lap top computers and discount chain store business account cards to Ferguson.

Turner's mileage claims totaled 229,906 miles from 2004-2006 although the odometer on his vehicle read about 130,000. In December of 2006 for example, Turner claimed over 500 miles per day with several destinations, although the receipts conflicted with the destinations. He also submitted mileage for every Saturday and Sunday as well as claims numerous evening meals, including DaVincis in Frankenmuth. Turner also documented daily trips to the Med-Control office, yet the staff rarely saw him.

Turner also went to Germany for 10 days with his daughter's class and spent two weeks in Florida for a daughter's wedding, although he took no vacation time from 2005 through 2007. He maintained he took along professional reading materials, his cell phone and was available for questions.

Turner was fired in July 2007 after a closed door meeting with med-control Board members, Ferguson, Sanilac County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Brenda Sanford, and the certified public accounting firm hired by the board to review matters relating to the director.