The Michigan Attorney General’s office announced Thursday it would file charges against five employees of the Muskegon County Sheriff’s office after the death of an inmate.
Jail guards Jeffery Patterson, Crystal Greve, Jamal Lane and Sgt. David Vanderlaan and nurse Aubrey Schotts all face involuntary-manslaughter charges after inmate Paul Bulthouse died in jail back in April of 2019.
The three jail guards and Sgt. Vanderlaan are accused of watching Bulthouse suffer 17 seizures in one night, and doing nothing about it.
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said Friday that her office is committed to taking a close look at any deaths that occur while a person is in custody of law enforcement.
“Every life is meaningful," says Nessel. "And when a person loses their life, when they are in custody of a county sheriff, or a police department, it is very important that this kind of comprehensive review take place,” Nessel said. “Not just by an investigative agency, but by a prosecutorial authority (as well.”)
The Muskegon County Sheriff office said in a Thursday release that “filing of charges is not proof of wrongdoing.”
All five employees face up to 15 years in jail if found guilty.