February 1, 2023
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Prosecutor Tim Rutkowski, 989.269.9255
On January 31, 2023, a Huron County jury found Erica Konke guilty of one count of Malicious Use of a Telecommunication Service.
The charges arose out of an investigation by the Caseville Police Department. On July 6, 2022, Huron County Dispatch received a call from the victim stating that someone was pounding on her apartment door at 6:00 a.m. After speaking with the victim, Chief Debra Hopkins of the Caseville Police Department determined that the individual pounding on the door was Erica Konke. Chief Hopkins contacted Erica Konke by telephone and during the conversation, told her that the victim no longer wanted to have any contact with Ms. Konke. The next day, Konke sent a series of threatening, harassing messages to the victim via Facebook Messenger. After receiving the messages, the victim called Chief Hopkins and told her about the new messages. On a later date, Chief Hopkins spoke with Ms. Konke, who admitted that she in fact did in contact the victim even after she was told to not do so.
The defendant was arraigned on September 29, 2022 on a Stalking charge, which was later amended to a charge of Malicious Use of a Telecommunication Service.
On January 31, 2023, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Christopher Hunter presented the State’s case during a half-day jury trial in the 73B District Court. The evidence included testimony from the victim and Chief Debra Hopkins, as well as the threatening and harassing messages sent by Konke via Facebook Messenger.
After 30 minutes of deliberation, a jury of five women and one man found Konke guilty as charged.
The Malicious Use charge has a maximum possible sentence of six months in jail and/or a fine of up to $1,000. Sentencing will take place before Judge David Herrington on February 16, 2023.
