Cuffed: Marijuana magnate wannabe jailed for criminal contempt

TUESDAY, April 4 — Lansing marijuana business entrepreneur Michael Doherty was jailed for criminal contempt for 93 days today after he accused 30^th Circuit Judge Joyce Draganchuk of “corruption.”

Doherty, whose marijuana business was placed in receivership last year, was in court for a hearing on a motion by attorney John Polderman for alleged criminal contempt. Polderman is the court-appointed receiver overseeing the liquidation of Doherty’s MD Industries LLC and Rehbel Industries LLC to pay off $12.5 million in debt. Polderman had alleged Doherty violated numerous court orders. He claimed Doherty harassed a title agent who oversaw the transfer of MD Industries property, had sent “veiled threats” by email, harassed attorneys and others involved in the case and sent inappropriate emails to people involved.

But a cantankerous Doherty, who was acting as his own lawyer, didn’t make it to defending himself on that criminal contempt motion before the courts.  

Polderman started his case by calling the former marijuana magnet to the stand. But Doherty defiantly demanded to know what prior notice he had been given that he would be called.

Deputies from the Ingham County Sheriff’s Office moved toward Doherty as he was arguing with the judge from his place at the defendant's table, and he finally agreed to move to the witness stand.

As he walked to the witness stand, he lectured Draganchuk.

“None of my questions are being answered … ,” he said.

As he got to the stand, he pointed at Draganchuk, looming over her as she attempted to administer an oath for testimony.

“ … By Judge Joyce Draganchuk, who I have officially asked to recuse from her position for direct corruption and harassment,” Doherty said.

“This is your first warning,” Draganchuk said.

“And this is your first warning,” he shot back. Then he raised his hand and took the oath.

As he sat, he assailed Draganchuk for the ongoing proceedings to recoup his debts, accusing her of "corrupt and unacceptable actions."

Draganchuk paused a second, a pen in her hand. She dropped the pen. “All right, I find you in contempt of court in the presence of the court for disrupting and refusing to allow … ,” Draganchuk began, and Doherty cut her off.

“And I asked you to recuse yourself immediately,” he said.

He continued to speak over Draganchuk as she rendered her sentence. 

Draganchuk continued, “I sentence you to 93 days in jail.”

Doherty continued trying to talk over the judge, and then the gallery of observers, as he was placed in handcuffs by sheriff’s deputies.

“I ask you to recuse yourself for judicial misconduct,” he kept saying.

As he was cuffed, he lashed out at Polderman and others, including this reporter.

Supporters for Doherty were in the courtroom wearing black t-shirts proclaiming the case was about freedom of speech. One supporter wept after Doherty was removed. Another asked for the video to be stopped. A third supporter called this reporter an “asshole” as she got up to leave the courtroom.