By Staff
CASSOPOLIS - Cass County Commissioner David Taylor, D-Edwardsburg, pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Friday afternoon before Fourth District Judge Paul Deats for domestic assault.
Deats scheduled a pretrial conference for 9 a.m. Friday, Jan. 21.
Taylor, 66, is charged with assault and battery on his wife, Mary Ann Crete.
The misdemeanor is punishable by 93 days in jail and/or a $500 fine and court costs.
Edwardsburg-Ontwa Township Police Chief Kenneth Wray, whose department made the arrest, said the alleged assault occurred at their home.
She received some scrapes on her face, he said.
Taylor told the court he has lived in Edwardsburg for 22 years.
He said he has been an attorney for 40 years, self-employed the last 12 years in private practice, including in Deats' court.
Deats, in releasing Taylor on a $300 personal recognizance bond, told him to have no contact with the alleged victim.
Taylor told Deats this is the first time he has ever been arrested, let alone convicted of a crime.
He was re-elected in 2004 to his second two-year term on the Board of Commissioners.