A three-term state legislator insists she isn’t a battered woman and has been unable to stop Wayne County prosecutors from pursuing domestic assault charges against her ex-boyfriend.
Sam Riddle was jailed Tuesday after a judge found the controversial political consultant and defendant in two federal corruption cases violated conditions of his bond by taking a telephone call from his ex-girlfriend, former Rep. Mary Waters. Waters and Riddle are co-defendants in one of the pending federal corruption cases.
Waters also faces a hearing this morning, where Wayne Circuit Judge Gregory Bill said he intends to ask why she shouldn’t be held in contempt of court for phoning Riddle. The judge in February had warned Waters to have no contact with Riddle in person, by phone, by text or through third parties.
Riddle was charged with domestic assault and a weapons violation shortly before Christmas. Waters called police Dec. 21 because she said Riddle pulled a shotgun on her after she caught him in her bed with another woman.
But in letters Waters has written since January to Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy, she complains that police and an assistant prosecutor lied in reports and misled her in court about statements she made that day. Waters insists she was never in fear of Riddle, even when he cocked the shotgun.
“I am not afraid of Sam, I just needed him to get help before he harms himself,” Waters wrote in one of three letters to her former boss that were included in a motion filed by Riddle’s lawyer Mark J. Mandell requesting the no contact order be dropped.
Waters once worked as a lobbyist for Worthy.
Riddle will be held in jail at least until a hearing Friday on his request motion.
Mandell said Riddle and Waters need to prepare together as co-defendants for a trial in federal court where they are accused of bribing a Southfield city councilman to aid in a zoning issue.
Riddle also faces retrial on charges that he and his former boss, Detroit Councilwoman Monica Conyers, shook down businesses on matters before the City Council and the General Retirement System. Riddle’s first trial in federal court ended with the jury unable to reach a verdict.
Waters wrote that Riddle suffers from depression and alcohol abuse, and that she called police in December “to force him to get help, not to punish him.”
Waters was in court Tuesday when Bill ordered Riddle to be taken into immediate custody for the contact that was revealed in testimony given last month in federal court but only recently unsealed. Waters and her attorney, Richard Convertino, left the court Tuesday without answering reporters’ questions.
Bill had tightened bond restrictions and ordered Riddle to wear an electronic tracking tether in February for a previous bond violation. He had met Waters at a Birmingham movie theater.
The judge said Tuesday, “I didn’t want to be put in this position, but this is my job. … I indicated to Mr. Riddle this was a shot across the bow. No contact is no contact.”
Source:The Detroit News/Doug Guthrie
