The case of Richelle Mariah-Lynne Spencer, a former candidate for Barry County Sheriff, continues to stagnate in Kent County Michigan’s 17th Circuit Court.
On July 23, 2025, a scheduled status conference was quietly adjourned without date, effectively halting progress on a serious charge of aggravated stalking under MCL 750.411i. This was the second time she had done this, the first stalking event occurring while she was actively campaigning for the Barry County Sheriff’s seat.
As an interesting aside, she also violated Michigan Campaign Finance Law, appearing in her Sheriff’s Uniform for multiple ads.
According to court records, Spencer’s case (Case #25-03128-FH) has now seen multiple delays. Previously scheduled hearings were adjourned on June 11 and again later that month, with the most recent postponement leaving the future of the case uncertain.
There is now no court date on the calendar, and no timeline for resolution.
This is not just a scheduling footnote, it’s a troubling pattern under Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker, where law enforcement officials are never really held accountable for bad behavior.
A Delayed Case with Serious Allegations
The charge against Spencer is not minor. Aggravated stalking is a felony in Michigan, punishable by up to five years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine, stressing a pattern of threatening or harassing behavior that could involve violations of restraining orders, physical threats, or prior stalking convictions.
And indeed it was a pattern; as she stalked a Hastings-Area Pediatrician during her campaign. It was swept under the rug at the time and officials accused Dar Leaf of a political stunt rather than intervene or get medical attention for Spencer.
The second event took place in October 2024, where she was arrested and subsequently picked up by Michigan State Police.
Despite the seriousness of the charge, the judicial process has ground to a halt.
Chris Becker’s Pattern of Protection
Adding to the concern is the prosecutor overseeing the case: Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker. Becker has built a reputation among watchdog groups for his hands-off approach to misconduct, especially when it involves law enforcement or politically connected individuals.
This wouldn’t be the first time Becker’s office has appeared to slow-walk or sideline accountability. Over the years, multiple allegations of police violence, prosecutorial misconduct, and institutional abuse have gone uncharged or quietly dismissed under his tenure, such as jury tampering.
Residents of the area constantly complain that Chris Becker is in the DeVos/Van Andel’s back pocket.
And once again under his watch, the case against a former law enforcement candidate accused of criminal stalking sits in limbo.
The Broader Implications
Spencer’s candidacy for sheriff was already controversial, and her current charge is deeply serious. But the justice system owes the public more than silence and indefinite delays. The indefinite adjournment of her case raises disturbing questions about selective prosecution and two-tier justice in Michigan.
- Would an average citizen with the same charge have their case delayed indefinitely?
- Would a Black or Indigenous woman accused of stalking be allowed to quietly disappear from the docket?
- Why is there no explanation for the continued adjournments, and where is the public transparency?
Justice delayed, especially without cause or communication, is justice denied.
What’s Next?
With no new court date set and no updates from the prosecutor’s office, it’s unclear what happens next in Richelle Spencer’s case. For now, a serious felony charge sits unresolved, and the public is left to speculate whether political connections or prosecutorial discretion are influencing the course of justice.
This is not the only stalking case that Chris Becker is ignoring, and clutch will be publishing the full story soon.
Have a tip on Chris Becker? Contact me here.
