Posted on 02/06/2009 2:23:54 PM PST by Diana in Wisconsin
In tears, the Westland woman accused of accepting money for sex from the husband of U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., began serving five days in jail today for violating the terms of her probation.
The decision, said 52-4 District Judge William Bolle, effectively ends the case.
It's been a long ride for the 21-year-old Alycia Martin, who is now eight months pregnant and engaged, said her pro bono attorney Frank Cusumano Jr. Martin, who dropped out of high school in the ninth grade and has been on her own since she was in her late teens, is working at a fast food restaurant, has a driver's license and is working to get her GED. She also voted for the first time in November. But her gas and electric has been shut off and she struggles to buy necessities like food, clothing and baby supplies.
She is, Cusumano said, the most broke she's ever been - but also the happiest, because she's a contributing member of society and no longer involved in prostitution.
"My car breaks down every other day," said Martin, shortly before she was led away by an Oakland County Sheriff's Office deputy. "There's nothing I can do. I can't walk here. And I don't have money for gas most of the time."
Martin had been sentenced in August to six months of probation on a misdemeanor trespassing charge after she was arrested in a prostitution sting in February 2008 at a Troy hotel. Initially charged with misdemeanor prostitution, she was sentenced by Bolle under the Holmes Youthful Trainee Act, which allows first-time nonviolent offenders ages 17-21 to have their records wiped clean if they successfully complete probation.
Bolle revoked that privilege this morning.
According to court officials, Martin had not showed up for mandatory drug and alcohol testing since September. Cusumano has repeatedly said Martin, who makes less than $100 a week and shares a car with other family members, cannot afford to pay for the testing.
Tom Athans, Stabenow's husband since 2003, was not charged in exchange for his assistance in the case. He never testified because Martin pleaded guilty.
"Alycia will get through this," Cusumano said. "She'll serve her time. I don't know why he'd throw her in jail, but it underscores the whole thing. There is a disparity between wealth and poverty.
"What does this say about the city of Troy?"
CONFLICT of INTEREST ring a bell....MAYBE??? geesh....yes, the VP of AIR AMERICA wants conservative talk radio to be silenced!!!
I don’t think either should be in jail, and i don’t think prostitution should be illegal. But if she is going, why not him?
Pish posh. That only applies to eeeeevil conservatives.
A feelgood story on a Friday afternoon - restores my faith in humanity :)
Hmmmm. Well, I will make no assumptions, being fully aware of how love can bite unexpectedly.
But seeing as how he is a bit younger than she, and knowing that he sought the companionship of a MUCH younger girl, I would guess that his entrance into this marriage was motivated by factors of the money/power variety.
But who knows.
Stabenow’s husband should get jail time for having sex with Debbie Stabenow. That sounds to me like an unnatural act in and of itself.
“How young can you go?!”
“18, and you stay out of jail.”
...or 16 in good ole Alabama !!!
LOL! I had never seen them together until today.
Mother and Son, fer Pete’s Sake! But then, my husband is three years younger than me. He needs to be, to keep up with me, LOL!
I heard her on the radio today talking about the "fariness doctrine" What a witch..
That'll get you this! :
Earth to Debbie:
Sounds as if you’re needed at home.
“Tom Athans, Stabenow’s husband since 2003, was not charged in exchange for his assistance in the case.”
Sort of reminds me of the Muslims burning prostitutes at the stake, while the john gets no punishment at all.
I’d say he traded up.
Oh, yeah. Big time. And for $150. Spitzer paid retail ;-)
Tom Athens, Debbie Stabenow’s HINO is HEAD of AIR AMERICA???? The JOHN is HEAD of something?? LOL!! talk about CHUTZPAH in trying to get conservative radio shut down!!
Like they say the senator is a decade older.\
Hope she’s good at her day job cause she quite obviously isn’t hitting home runs at home.
Ahem! I guess congratulations are in order for the Senator's husband.
I did a search. I used STABENOW. No results.
But by all means bring them all over here to chat. It’s Friday; we may as well have a Cocktail Party at the ‘RAts expense. :)
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