Domestic violence charge against Parrott dismissed by prosecutor

On Sept. 23, 35th District Court Judge James A. Plakas dismissed a misdemeanor charge of domestic violence against former 34th District Court Judge David Parrott of Van Buren Township, at the request of the prosecuting attorney.
Judge Parrott was scheduled for a jury trial, but that was removed from the calendar because the complaining witness would not testify.
Parrott, who was in his 18th year on the bench, was charged with one count of domestic violence on Feb. 8, 2020 in Van Buren Township. His case was transferred to the 35th District Court to avoid a conflict of interest since the actual venue of 34th District Court was where Parrott was a sitting judge.
He had been free on $2,500 personal bond. Judge Plakas signed the order of acquittal/dismissal.
Parrott’s original attorney, Robert Coutts, withdrew from the case and ran for Parrott’s seat in the 2020 election. Parrott was then represented by Heather Nalley.
Parrott was charged with domestic violence against his live-in girlfriend in his condo in Van Buren Township on Feb. 8. She called 911 and VBT Police arrived at the home and interviewed her with body cam recording the session.
Assistant Wayne County Prosecutor Tara Hindelang told Judge Plakas that the two officers describing the injuries and body cam footage would not be admissible if the complaining witness does not come to trial.
“If the complainant appears at trial, it allows me to use police testimony and body cam,” Hindelang said.
On Sept. 23, after the dismissal, Parrott requested the return of his gun collection which had been confiscated by the Van Buren Township Police but was denied because his Dec. 25, 2018 misdemeanor drunk driving charge in Manistee County is still pending.