Felony charges against Judge Konschuh dropped (From the Tuesday, March 8th County Press)

[William Gavette]

FLINT — Judge Byron Konschuh’s nearly 20-month fight with the legal system has come to an end with all felony charges against him dismissed.

After 6 ½ hours of mediation negotiations in front of retired Genesee County Circuit Court Robert Ransom in Tom Pabst’s Flint law offices, Shiawassee County Prosecutor Deanna Finnegan agreed Tuesday to drop the five felony charges against Konschuh.

“The justice system won here,” Pabst said.

Konshuch, whose annual salary is $140,000, has been on paid leave since July 2014. That’s when he was charged with five counts of embezzlement by a public official of more than $50, felony charges that carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $5,000 fine and in the case of a lawyer, loss of license.

The negotiated settlement paves the way for Konschuh to return to the bench.

Pabst said the judge has one more court appearance as a defendant. He’s slated to appear before Genesee County Circuit Court Judge Geoffrey Neithercutt March 31. Pabst said he expects at that hearing the final charge against Konschuh will be dismissed

For full story, see Sunday’s County Press.

• Phil Foley

• Here is the original story in the County Press --

• http://thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/news/2016-03-09/Front_Page/Fe...