Allegations of Misconduct and Cronyism in St. Clair County: A Closer Look at a Troubling Pattern

St. Clair County, MI- In a series of past incidents that have raised serious ethical and professional concerns, several high-ranking current and former officials and employees in St. Clair County have been implicated in extramarital affairs, misuse of public office, and questionable promotions. These allegations suggest a troubling pattern of misconduct and favoritism within the county’s public offices, leading to calls for reform.

Former Sheriff Tim Donnellon’s Scandalous Exit

Former St. Clair County Sheriff Tim Donnellon was reportedly involved in numerous extramarital affairs during his tenure, which ultimately led to his resignation. Sources have alleged that Donnellon’s relationships with subordinates, other county employees, and vulnerable women in the community were well known, raising questions about his use of power and influence.

Love letters allegedly exchanged between Donnellon and one of his mistresses have surfaced, adding further credibility to these claims. These missives were drafted on Donnellon’s own official stationary and were most likely written while he was on-duty and at his desk in the Sheriff’s Office.

Why would a sitting sheriff be spending his days waxing philosophical about a woman who wasn’t his wife, and not be out policing the county that he is responsible for?

Current Sheriff’s Office Involvement: Andrea Blair’s Affairs and Consequences

Andrea Blair, currently serving as the confidential executive assistant to Sheriff Mat “Mighty Mouse” King, following a questionable promotion by Donnellon, has also been implicated in an affair that ended in tragedy. Blair was previously involved in an extramarital relationship with former St. Clair County Sheriff Lt. Joe Hernandez.

This affair had dire consequences, reportedly leading to Hernandez’s wife fatally shooting their family dog using Hernandez’s service weapon. Blair was formerly Donnellon’s assistant during the time of his alleged affairs, suggesting a possible continuation of the same patterns of misconduct.

Blair is currently married to St. Clair County Prosecutor Mike Wendling. The scuttlebutt around the courthouse is that Wendling and Blair began their relationship prior to Wendling’s divorce from his ex-wife.

Based on past behaviors, it seems quite plausible that the two lovebirds were having an affair of their own before going public with their current relationship.

Tragic Outcome in Port Huron Police Department: Lt. Joel Wood’s Death

The ripple effects of these ethical breaches extend beyond the Sheriff’s Office. Deceased Port Huron Police Lt. Joel Wood was reportedly involved in an extramarital affair with Ashly Bauman (Reifert), the secretary of his chief. This relationship ended in a violent confrontation, resulting in Lt. Wood being killed by his mistress’s estranged husband.

Disturbingly, the mistress involved in this affair has since been promoted to a significant administrative role overseeing McMorran Arena, which is owned by the City of Port Huron.

How is it that a public employee can engage in clear fraternization which resulted in numerous people being shot, and not only wasn’t terminated from her position, but given a promotion and substantial raise?

There are also allegations that Bauman (Reifert) was engaged in an additional simultaneous affair with Port Huron City Manager James “Casanova” Freed while she was involved with Lt. Wood.

Statements made by Bauman (Reifert) in the police report from the shooting state that Freed had asked her out for drinks, despite the fact that he is a married father of two.

Further allegations entail a trip to Canada that Bauman (Reifert) and Freed took under the guise of official city business.

Casanova himself is well-known in the community for his predatory and creepy behavior towards both female city employees and other local women, and has a penchant for young females.

More recently, numerous young women have come forward with details of Freed using the popular social media app Snapchat to contact them.

Questionable Promotions and Nepotism in Jail Administration

Further allegations have surfaced about the current St. Clair County Jail administrator, Tracy Decaussin. Originally serving as the secretary to the former jail administrator, Decaussin was promoted to her current role despite reportedly having no experience in corrections.

Rumors suggest that Decaussin may have been involved in an inappropriate relationship with the former undersheriff, Tom Buckley, casting doubt on the legitimacy of her promotion. This has sparked outrage, particularly given the significant pay raise accompanying her new position.

Since her promotion, DeCaussin has been directly involved in numerous facility operations decisions that have resulted in several federal lawsuits being filed against the jail over egregious civil rights violations of inmates.

Pattern of Misconduct and Lack of Accountability

These allegations highlight a consistent pattern where male officials use their positions to engage in inappropriate relationships with female subordinates, who then receive questionable promotions and financial benefits.

Such actions not only breach ethical standards but also misuse public funds to cover up these indiscretions, raising serious concerns about the integrity of leadership within St. Clair County.

For decades, this type of behavior has plagued both the city and the county. While the powers-that-be engage in this type of never-ending nonsense, local residents have continued to suffer and shake their heads at the quality of leadership that has had a stranglehold on the community.

Public Outcry and Calls for Reform

Public sentiment is increasingly critical of the lack of accountability for these actions. Critics argue that all individuals involved, both male and female, should face consequences for their misconduct.

The fact that many have not only retained their positions but have been rewarded with promotions and salary increases only adds to the outrage. The situation calls for urgent intervention and comprehensive reforms to restore trust and integrity in the county’s public institutions.

Not only is this type of behavior unethical, in many cases it is also illegal. Many of our local officials are running amok and fleecing taxpayers.

Enough is enough.

Demand For Investigations

While these allegations are documented and have gained public attention, there is a growing demand for ethical leadership in St. Clair County. The misuse of public office for personal gain cannot be ignored, and it is imperative that thorough investigations are conducted to address these serious issues.