Former Scio Twp Supervisor Asks for Charges to be Dropped

Former Scio Township Supervisor Will Hathaway has asked the Washtenaw County Prosecutor to drop the felony charges against current Scio Township Supervisor Jillian Kerry. The Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s office has submitted a dismissal order to the Judge.

This goes back to 2024, when the charges filed were for the offense of Felony Invade Privacy and Interfering with Electronic Communications. 

Here is the letter Hathaway sent to the county prosecutor:

“Dear Mr. Savit,

“I am writing as the victim in The People of the State of Michigan vs. Jillian Kerry to ask that you dismiss the charges. 

“Ms. Kerry is charged with two felonies: 1) using a computer to commit a crime, and 2) interfering with electronic communications. I reported the November 2023 incident to the Washtenaw County Sheriff Department because the Township was not equipped to investigate it. 

“In 2024, your office brought the two charges against Ms. Kerry based on the Sheriff’s investigation. The case has been making its way through the criminal justice process, and a trial is scheduled for June 29, 2026. If the case were to proceed to trial and Ms. Kerry were found guilty of either one or both charges, then, according to MCL 168.369, she shall be removed from her office as township supervisor. I do not desire that result.

“My request for dismissal is primarily based on the potential negative impact on Scio Township government and the residents it serves. If Ms. Kerry is removed from office, it would create instability within the government and exacerbate an already contentious workplace for the township employees. Ms. Kerry has been serving as Scio Township’s supervisor since her election in November 2024. The Scio Township voters were aware of the charges against Ms. Kerry when a majority elected her to the position. Her abrupt removal would effectively overturn the 2024 vote and result in a disruptive, mid-term transition. While Ms. Kerry and I have been opponents in the past, I respect her service as supervisor, the seriousness with which she approaches her responsibilities, and I admire her working relationships with township employees.

“I have been impressed by the work of the sheriff, prosecutor and the courts in handling this matter. I particularly want to acknowledge the expert computer forensic work by Detective Kevin Parviz.  I don’t mean to undercut any of the effort expended so far, but I hope we can save additional public resources by halting the movement to trial. I am mindful that your office and the Circuit Court are faced with many, much more serious offenses than those with which Ms. Kerry is charged. I am aware that the Township has chosen to pay for Ms. Kerry’s legal expenses and a dismissal may save further expenditures of the Township’s public funds. Let’s target these public resources towards other, more pressing needs. Please dismiss the charges against Jillian Kerry. If it would be helpful, I would be pleased to meet with you to discuss this in person or we could talk by phone.

“Sincerely,

Will Hathaway”

Back at that time when the charges were filed in 2024, Kerry issued this statement to the Sun Times News:

“On June 20, 2024, I was arraigned in 14A District Court in Washtenaw County on charges of using a computer to commit a crime.  According to the complaint, this alleged crime occurred on November 15, 2023, at 827 North Zeeb Road. That is the location of Scio Township Hall, where I proudly serve as a Trustee of Scio Township and Chair of the Road Advisory Committee. I am completely astonished and distressed by these unfair charges, which are baseless and untrue. I have been a proponent for the honest citizens of Scio Township, helping with their grievances, rooting out issues, fighting for transparency and advocating for good governance for years. My efforts have made some entrenched forces in the Township very uncomfortable. Before getting involved in my community, I was a stay- at- home mom, juggling self-employment and raising three beautiful daughters. I am grateful to have been blessed and now enjoy having my first granddaughter. I am a 57-year-old woman with a spotless record. Until receiving these unfounded charges, I have never been in trouble with the law nor arrested or charged with a crime in my life. It is very distressing that these charges have been brought on the eve of the upcoming August 6^th primary.  I am going to vigorously defend myself with the truth and have complete faith that the judge or jury will exonerate my good name.  Regardless of this unfounded distraction occurring in the middle of my campaign for Supervisor, I will continue my consistent public service for the residents in my Scio Township community.”

The Sun Times News will update this story once a new statement from Kerry is received.