Note: Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker and Barry County Sheriff’s Office did not respond to requests for comment. The National Alliance on Mental Illness provides a free hotline for mental health emergencies.
Find out more here.
Key Takeaways
Richelle Spencer, a former Barry County Sheriff Candidate and Deputy, faces up to 5 years in prison for violating a Personal Protection Order (PPO)
Her behavior began in 2023, targeting a pediatrician, and escalated after her August 2024 primary loss to a second victim
The Barry County Prosecutor, Michigan State Police, Michigan Sheriff’s Association, and the AG’s office all refused to investigate the first stalking incident
Due process should not only be for the police. The same bar for NGRI must apply to every defendant in the system
In a shocking event getting little to no media coverage, former Barry County Sheriff Candidate and Deputy Richelle Spencer faces up to 5 years in prison for violating a Personal Protection Order. This was not the first time — due to a failure to act by multiple government entities.
How It Began
Richelle’s behavior began in 2023, targeting her then campaign treasurer’s wife, a Hastings-area pediatrician. Campaign finance documents confirm a change of treasurer around March 2023. The ordeal stayed out of the public eye until August 2024, but may have been an open secret, as many campaign donors and two alleged victims had connections to the Sheriff’s Department.
Had the issue been addressed by law enforcement, it may have prevented a second incident with a new victim, which led to Spencer’s October 2024 arrest.
Case Timeline
2023
Stalking behavior begins targeting a Hastings-area pediatrician, who was the campaign treasurer’s wife. Campaign finance records show treasurer change around March 2023.
Aug 2024
The Sixberry Notes surface publicly amid a FOIA dispute. Barry County Prosecutor declines to release them. Sheriff Dar Leaf releases the notes. Southwest Michigan media frames the release as a political ploy.
Aug 2024
Spencer loses the primary election — a presumed catalyst for escalation and stalking of a second Sheriff’s Office employee.
Oct 15, 2024
Spencer arrested by Michigan State Police Grand Rapids Post. No media coverage.
Early 2025
Spencer undergoes mental evaluation. Court proceedings in Kent County before Judge Jeffrey O’Hara to determine competency for trial.
Update
Kent County Register of Actions reflects a Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity plea adopted.
The Sixberry Notes
Spencer’s first offense went under the radar until becoming the center of a FOIA dispute in August 2024. Now referred to as The Sixberry Notes, Barry County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Jason Sixberry’s investigation documents detail Spencer’s 2023 stalking of a Hastings-area doctor. The Barry County Prosecutor declined to release the notes — a consistent practice for those working in the courthouse. The records were later released by Sheriff Dar Leaf.
The notes were uploaded to social media out of order, requiring proper assembly to understand the timeline of stalking events. Perhaps due to the way it was uploaded, failure to tell the backstory, or a lack of attention by the media, the notes were not taken seriously — spun in the Southwest Michigan media as a political ploy on part of Dar Leaf.
But even a broken clock is right twice a day.
What the Sixberry Notes Show
The contents of the notes demonstrate a person in mental crisis. In fact, Richelle acknowledges as early as 2023 that she needs medical intervention. It is unknown why the Barry County Prosecutor refused to investigate or pursue charges for stalking or misconduct in office, as many of these events occurred during Spencer’s working hours. Sources allege it was political — a means of ousting Sheriff Dar Leaf from office. Interestingly, per dialogue in
this Barry County Board of Commissioners meeting, charging decisions were previously in the hands of an Assistant Prosecutor — meaning the Prosecutor’s office knew and declined to move forward.
Who Refused to Investigate
Entities That Declined to Investigate Spencer’s First Stalking Incident
Barry County Prosecutor’s Office
Michigan State Police
Michigan Sheriff’s Association
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel’s Office
It is no secret that the Barry County Prosecutor and Attorney General Dana Nessel have a tumultuous relationship with Sheriff Leaf. Plenty of blame to go around.
Failure to Cover
In both cases, Spencer sent hundreds of messages over the course of days, sometimes hours, making unwanted sexual advances. Michigan Rules of Evidence 404b potentially allows Kent County Prosecutors to utilize prior acts evidence in the second case.
Spencer was picked up on October 15, 2024 by Michigan State Police Grand Rapids Post with no media coverage. The handling of this case mirrors elements of the former Michigan State Police Trooper Megan Moryc case — denied FOIAs and declined charges against law enforcement.
Mental Health and Due Process Matter
Per the Hastings Banner, Spencer underwent mental evaluation. She faces 5 years in prison and a $10,000 fine for felony aggravated stalking. In the Sixberry Notes, Richelle admitted to needing medical intervention. A PPO was sought and presumably received — PPOs are not public record. Barry County government was likely aware that a Barry County Sheriff’s Deputy was working and campaigning with an active PPO against her.
It is unknown whether she sought medical treatment prior to her October arrest, but sources and court documents confirm she spent time at Pine Rest.
The NGRI Standard Must Be Equal
It is worth noting that mental health evaluations generating Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity pleas are notoriously hard for the average Michigan defendant to receive. If we offer a low bar for
Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity for law enforcement officers, we need to do the same for every other defendant in the system. This is in line with the
Rule of Law.
Case Update
The Kent County Register of Actions reflects that a Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity plea has been adopted in this case.
The Bottom Line
Perhaps a second stalking event would not have occurred had someone intervened.
It’s an incredibly complicated case with multiple facets. Clearly Richelle was not ok. There should have been intervention by an employer or organization that could get her the appropriate treatment and resources. Officials failed to act.
However, your typical defendant is not allowed the privacy and professional niceties afforded here. Due process should not only be for the police, nor should politics get in the way of doing what’s right or getting someone mental health treatment if they are in fact in crisis.
Legal Citation
Michigan Rules of Evidence 404(b): Other Crimes, Wrongs, or Acts. Prohibits admitting prior bad acts to prove propensity, but permits admission for other purposes including intent, knowledge, or absence of mistake.
Full text of Michigan Rules of Evidence ?
Work With Rita — Forensic Consulting
Institutional Accountability. Pattern Recognition. Civil Rights Exposure.
Rita Williams works with attorneys, advocates, and organizations documenting law enforcement misconduct patterns, selective enforcement, FOIA disputes, and civil rights exposure in Michigan courts.
View Services ?
Related Clutch Justice Coverage
How to cite: Williams, R. [Rita]. (2025, January 4). Defeated Michigan Sheriff Candidate Richelle Spencer Facing Felony Stalking Charge. Clutch Justice. https://clutchjustice.com/2025/01/04/richelle-spencer-felony-stalking-charge/
