Chad Curtis challenges judge over new sentence

HASTINGS, Mich. (AP) — Former Major League Baseball player Chad Curtis wants a judge to step aside if he decides to seek a new sentence for criminal sexual conduct.

Curtis appeared in Barry County court last Thursday and accused Judge Amy McDowell of bias. She declined to recuse herself.

Curtis was convicted in 2013 and sentenced to at least seven years in prison. But the Michigan Supreme Court sent the case back to McDowell to conform to a statewide change in sentencing procedures.

It’s up to Curtis to decide whether to ask for a new sentence. The risk for him is that the punishment could be worse.

Young women said they were inappropriately touched by Curtis when they were high school students in western Michigan. The next hearing is Aug. 29.