Former Housing Director Violates Probation, Faces New Sentence for Entering Homes and Stealing Medicine from Seniors
(Crystal A. Proxmire, March 10, 2015)
Deborah Wilson has been arraigned for violation of probation and returns to court on March 19 for a hearing before Judge Langford-Morris. Wilson pled no contest to two felony home invasion charges and one felony drug possession charge after being caught going into the apartments of seniors and disabled people at the Withington Apartments in Ferndale, and stealing their prescriptions. Wilson was Director of the Ferndale Housing Program, which is an independent agency operating in Ferndale and largely regulated by HUD.
Wilson pled no contest, which is the same as a conviction, to two counts of felony home invasion and to one count of possession of a controlled substance.
She was sentenced on Feb. 26. The drug charge was processed under “7411,” a statute that allows first time drug offenders to have their conviction adjudicated if they complete the terms set by the court. In this case Wilson, 52, was given 1 year probation and 1 day in jail which she already served. She was required undergo outpatient treatment, to seek full time employment, and to do 90 days of community service. She is also banned from returning to Withington Apartments.
For two counts felony home invasion Wilson was sentenced to three years probation and one day in jail which she already served. In addition, Wilson was ordered to pay $130 fee, $10 a month in probation supervision fees, court cost of $500 and a State fee of $204. The prosecution did not request restitution. David Hudson of the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office agreed to the sentencing recommendation.
Oakland County Prosecutor Jessica Cooper was unable to give details of what the specific probation violation was, only that a bench warrant had been issued, Wilson had been arrested, and that she had been arraigned on March 4th. She has been released on a $10,000 cash-only bond and must return to court on March 19 at 1:30pm. Details of the Violation of Probation (VOP) report will be public at that time.
When asked what the potential consequences could be, Cooper said “She could get the sentence she would not have gotten without the probation. The judge has a lot of flexibility but she could face up to the maximum of what is allowed for those charges.”
Second degree home invasion is up to a 15 year felony and possession of a controlled substance under 25 grams is up to a four year felony.
Wilson was permitted to resign from the Housing Commission and was given a $130,000 severance package from the commission.
The Housing Commission has been under constant public pressure for multiple issues that have surfaced in the wake of Wilson’s departure, and a HUD review took place last week. The results of the review will be discussed at the Commission’s next meeting which is March 18 at 4pm at Autumn House Apartments.
Previous stories:
https://oaklandcounty115.com/2014/06/19/protesters-claim-racism-in-ferndale-housing-commission-dispute/
https://oaklandcounty115.com/2014/11/06/housing-director-arrested-on-suspicion-of-entering-apartment-stealing-pills/
https://oaklandcounty115.com/2014/11/20/seniors-hope-to-regain-their-voice-as/
https://oaklandcounty115.com/2014/12/22/directors-arrest-just-tip-of-housing-commission-problems-video/
https://oaklandcounty115.com/2015/01/21/hud-review-coming-and-changes-happening-at-ferndale-housing-commission/
https://oaklandcounty115.com/2015/01/22/former-ferndale-housing-director-pleads-no-contest-to-home-invasion-drug-possession/
https://oaklandcounty115.com/2015/02/18/after-drug-and-home-invasion-plea-ferndale-housing-director-gets-130000-payout-from-commission/
https://oaklandcounty115.com/2015/02/26/housing-director-convicted-of-entering-seniors-apartments-stealing-medication-gets-probation/