Michigan priest who resigned charged in embezzlement case
CENTREVILLE, Mich. (AP) — A southwestern Michigan priest who resigned following an investigation into inappropriate use of church funds has been charged with embezzling more than $100,000.
The Kalamazoo Gazette reports Richard Fritz is due back in court later this month after being arraigned in April in St. Joseph County District Court.
The Associated Press left a message Wednesday seeking comment with a lawyer listed as representing Fritz.
Michigan State Police investigated the case and submitted it to the Branch County prosecutor's office in February, requesting that embezzlement charges be brought. The case ended up being assigned to the St. Joseph County prosecutor's office.
Fritz was a priest in the Diocese of Kalamazoo for 35 years until resigning last year. The investigation into his use of church funds covered a period from 2010-2016.
Officials: Traffic deaths continued rise in 2016
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Officials say Michigan traffic deaths rose 10 percent last year as drug-impaired, bicyclist and motorcyclist traffic deaths increased.
The Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning noted Wednesday that it's the second-consecutive year to show a 10 percent increase. They rose from 963 in 2015 to 1,064 in 2016 according to numbers from the Michigan State Police Criminal Justice Information Center.
Michael L. Prince, director of the Office of Highway Safety Planning, says officials are "aligning resources accordingly" to boost training for law enforcement to detect drug-impaired drivers. Plans call for using federal funds to help curb bicyclist and pedestrian crashes.
The last year Michigan exceeded 1,000 traffic fatalities was 2007. Officials note, however, that alcohol-involved traffic deaths declined 11 percent to 271 in 2016.
ACC Michigan Chapter: Internal Investigations in the Digital Age
Join the Association of Corporate Counsel Michigan Chapter from 4-6 p.m. Thursday, May 11 at the Detroit Athletic Club for “Internal Investigations in the Digital Age.” The digital age has transformed how investigations are conducted, as technology allows access to more information than ever before. A panel of experts will discuss actions to consider placing in a general counsel’s contingency plan to protect privilege, preserve data, and navigate regulatory concerns. Speakers at the event include Hon. Stephen J. Murphy III, Federal Judge, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of MI; Beth Hill, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer, FordDirect; Raymond Roth, Director of Dispute Advisory and Forensic Services, Stout Risius Ross; and Michael Williams, Attorney, Bush Seyferth & Paige PLLC. Cost is $20 for members and $25 for non-members. Register at http://www.acc. com/chapters/mich/. For more information, contact Nicole Smith at (248) 385-2000 or michigan@accglobal.com
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