Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel on Monday announced the sentencing of two of the four defendants in a Coldwater sex abuse conspiracy ring.
Talia Renee Furman, 33, of Battle Creek, and David Lee Bailey, 37, of Kalamazoo were sentenced Monday before Branch County Circuit Court Judge P. William O'Grady to the following:
- Furman 25 to 50 years in prison for Conspiracy to Commit First Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct and 11-50 years in prison for Conspiracy to Commit Kidnapping.
- Bailey 25 to 50 years in prison for Conspiracy to Commit First Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct and 5.5 years to 50 years in prison for Conspiracy to Commit Kidnapping.
Each defendant is subject to lifetime global monitoring and is required to register as sex offenders.
Both defendants pleaded guilty in June to one felony count of Conspiracy to Commit Kidnapping and one felony count of Conspiracy to Commit First Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct.
Monday's sentencing is the result of a May 2018 complaint to the Michigan State Police (MSP) from a witness that claimed Furman and 33-year-old Matthew Toole, both of Battle Creek, had child sexually abusive material on their phones and had plans to abuse and murder a young girl.
Upon further investigation by MSP and the Attorney General's Office, it was discovered that several messages were exchanged detailing the same plans to abuse and kill a young girl. Evidence retrieved from Bailey's home revealed he and his girlfriend, Jayme LaPoint, had engaged in these conspiracies with Toole and Furman. The four met for pizza at Bailey's home and laid out the plot to kidnap a child from the county fair and rape and then murder that child.
"This sentencing makes it clear that when it comes to the safety and welfare of our children and residents, my office will stop at nothing to hold dangerous individuals accountable," said Nessel. "I appreciate the court's decision and commitment to ensuring justice in this case was served. And I am incredibly proud of the swift action taken by the Michigan State Police and our career prosecutors who intercepted these plans to carry out heinous crimes and prevented Michigan children from being harmed."
A trial for Toole begins Tuesday, Oct. 22. LaPoint, who pleaded guilty to the same charges in late July, will be sentenced Monday, Sept. 23.
Published: Wed, Aug 28, 2019
