I believe in restorative justice. I believe in repair over punishment, in giving people second chances, in building accountability that actually heals. But restorative justice isn’t a free pass. It only works when accountability is real, when the harm is recognized, and when the system delivers something meaningful for victims, families, and communities.
What happened in Allegan County under Judge Matthew Antkoviak isn’t restorative justice. It’s a hollow process that left everyone worse off.
A Veteran Beaten With a Pipe — 10 Months
William “Billy” Simpson, 86, an Army veteran and retired chaplain, was ambushed at a gas station and beaten with a metal pipe. His face was shattered. His teeth knocked out. His body never fully recovered. His family believes the assault helped lead to his death.
And yet Judge Antkoviak gave the attacker 10 months in jail. Ten months. The family said former prosecutor Myrene Koch had promised no plea deal would be allowed, but she lied; she slid one through anyway. They walked out of court feeling lied to, silenced, and abandoned.
A Trading Card Burglary — Nearly a Year
Then came Eric Cody, 39, who smashed a window at Super Hideaway Gaming in Holland and stole about $14,000 in trading cards. No one was injured. Much of the property was recovered.
The business likely had insurance, but Antkoviak STILL ordered restitution, essentially allowing double-dipping for a paid-out claim and the full restitution amount.
Antkoviak sentenced him to nearly a year in jail; he will serve 30 days longer than the man who beat a defenseless veteran half to death.
Violence vs. Property: The Math Doesn’t Work
- Break a storefront → nearly a year.
- Break an elderly man’s face → less than that.
The message is clear: in Antkoviak’s courtroom, property is worth more than people.
No Rehabilitation. No Healing. No Justice.
Here’s the worst part: neither sentence included anything substantial that could help the individuals found responsible change or the families heal.
- No meaningful rehabilitation programs.
- No victim-offender dialogue.
- No community service to repair harm.
- No restitution that would ease pain for Simpson’s grieving family.
Just short-term jail time and a shrug from the bench. That isn’t accountability. It’s bureaucratic box-checking.
This Is Not Justice.
True restorative justice honors victims, forces offenders to take responsibility, and works toward actual repair. What Judge Antkoviak delivered instead was minimal punishment, no healing, and a dangerous signal that property damage matters more to him than human suffering.
When an elderly veteran’s life is discounted while a stack of trading cards commands a harsher response, we’re not seeing justice; we’re watching it collapse.
But then again, Judge Antkoviak is the same man who threatened to give children away rather than deal with an abuse situation, while Myrene Koch allowed a drunk prosecutor to claim a 9-year-old and an 18-year-old were mutual combatants.
Perhaps Judge Antkoviak would do well to follow his ghastly predecessor’s example and retire early, because he is clearly lacking the common sense and compassion necessary to do his job well.
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