Court Watching: McFall gets felony domestic charge reduced to misdemeanor

On April 25, 34th District Court Judge David Parrott dismissed a felony charge of domestic violence against Jeffrey Glen McFall, 30, which allegedly had occurred in Van Buren Township on March 27.
The prosecutor recommended a misdemeanor domestic violence charge replace the felony. The prosecutor also said the 30 days in jail fulfilled his jail penalty but he should also have two years of probation, substance abuse evaluation, an anger-management class and no contact with his grandmother, the victim.
Judge Parrott said he is not willing to follow the prosecutor’s recommendation unless McFall takes the judge’s domestic violence course every month — and makes progress.
“That’s the only way I’m willing to assume oversight of this,” Judge Parrott said.
Court-appointed attorney David Langford conferred with his client and then said McFall had no objection.
“If you don’t progress, I’ll jail you,” Judge Parrott said to McFall, adding he can reduce the probation time and reporting if he progresses.
He sent McFall to the probation department to learn the entire extent of the 26-week Batters’ Court program.
When Judge Parrott asked McFall to say what happened, as part of the plea deal, McFall said that on March 27 he assaulted his grandmother, Cindy McFall. When asked by the judge, McFall said he is 30 years old and his grandmother in her 60s.
“A full-grown man beating up on his elderly grandmother,” said Judge Parrott.
“There’s more to it than that,” Lankford said.
Judge Parrott said records show that in the earlier two cases one victim was his girlfriend/wife and the second was his grandmother.
Judge Parrott found him guilty of domestic violence second and dismissed domestic violence third. Jail time has been served and he must serve 24 months probation.
He said he could have him serve 30 days in jail every two months for lack of progress.
“I’ll keep doing that if you don’t progress,” Judge Parrott said. “There will be no further jail if you comply.”
He said there will be substance abuse treatment as determined by the probation department and a total fee of $1,945.
“We’ll be seeing a lot of each other, sir,” the judge said. “Hope this is helpful.”
McFall had been lodged in the Wayne County Jail on bond of $50,000/10% on this charge.
Wayne County Circuit Court records also show a warrant for McFall’s arrest was issued March 20 on a violation of probation charge. On Oct. 24, he had been sentenced to two years of probation after pleading guilty to the felony of copying audio/video recordings for gain. He owes the court $9,748 on that charge.
Then, a charge was filed against McFall for domestic violence in VBT on April 30. He was in jail and due before Judge Parrott May 16 for his preliminary exam on that charge.
That charge was dismissed at the May 16 court session and McFall was released from custody. The prosecutor explained the victim is elderly and unable to walk and was not at the hearing to testify. The charge was dismissed without prejudice, so it could be refiled.