Judge Wade McCree is on administrative leave in Wayne Circuit Court after a sensational report by Charlie LeDuff of Fox 2 News that he impregnated a woman who had an ongoing case in his court.
In a separate step, the county prosecutor's office contacted the Michigan Judicial Tenure Commission after McCree filed a complaint alleging the woman, Geniene La’Shay Mott, was stalking and trying to extort him. They're shown here in a Facebook photo published Saturday by The News. She is 29, an online database shows.
A Wayne State University law professor, Peter Henning, tells the paper:
"If the relationship began while the case was in front of him, that would raise some very serous questions if he could even remain on the bench."
Fox2's Charlie LeDuff on Thursday night broke the news of the couple's affair while Mott was a plaintiff before McCree in an ongoing case involving child support from her ex-boyfriend.
LeDuff reports that McCree, who is married, struck up a romantic relationship with the woman. She became pregnant.
"I met him as a litigant, a complaining witness in his courtroom, and he stayed around after the case was over and that's when the second half of the flirting started and we went from there and our relationship picked up," Mott told LeDuff.
The judge reportedly discussed the pending case with her and what punishment her ex-boyfriend should get.
In a text, she wrote to McCree:
OK, SO LET'S GO WITH WHAT YOU PROPOSED... GO 2 JAIL (150 DAYS), RELEASE UPON PAYMENT OF $1,500. OR, GET A TETHER & BRING BACK W/N 30 DAYS $2500 OR SERVE 9 MONTHS! BONUS: PAY W/N 30 DAYS, REMOVE TETHER. NOW BACK 2 US... WHAT ARE WE DOIN AFTER COURT THURSDAY???
LeDuff reports that a text sent from McCree's phone suggested his wife would only give him a divorce if Mott had an abortion.
LeDuff says McCree eventually told the Wayne County prosecutor that Mott was stalking and extorting her, but the office found the complaint baseless.
The Supreme Court censured McCree earlier this year for his behavior involving the shirtless photo he sent to the bailiff. When confronted about the photo earlier this year, McCree told LeDuff there's "No shame in my game."
LeDuff suggested this latest affair could cost him his job. McCree did not respond to LeDuff when asked to comment on this latest scandal.
