It took James Jagger just two months to clear his criminal record late last year by securing a felony drunk-driving pardon from outgoing Gov. Rick Snyder.
James Jagger had four drunken-driving convictions. (Photo: Facebook)
The Oakland accountant's break is described by Ed White in an Associated Press dispatch at The Detroit News:
Jagger’s application for a pardon sailed swiftly: He filed in late October, got a [parole board] hearing in December and won Snyder’s blessing before Christmas, despite opposition from the Oakland County prosecutor. . . . Separately, the attorney general’s office also objected. . . .
Jagger, 54, of Royal Oak, had four drunken-driving convictions from 1989 to 2007. It’s typically a misdemeanor, but he faced a felony charge after the last arrest because of his repeat offenses. . . . Judge Michael Warren sentenced him to 135 days in jail, [after the prosecutor called] Jagger a "danger to the public."
Jagger served his sentence, but the pardon means the felony is off the books.
The suburban prosecutor opposed "special treatment" for a "career drunk driver" in her response to the appeal.
"The average Joe out there is not going to get a pardon" for the same crime, prosecutor Jessica Cooper told the AP. "Nor should they."
The beneficiary asked for a clean slate so he could try to become president of the Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants, where he now is a senior vice president and chief marketing officer at an annual salary of $144,000, AP reports. Syder originally had been an accountant too.
Jagger, a maried father with a young son and daughter, also is principal partner of a Troy firm. He grew up in Grosse Pointe and graduated in 1987 from the University of Central Florida.
The wire service reporter tried to get comments from Jagger, his lawyer, the CPA group's leader and the governor. None responded.
The Oakland businessman is among fewer than 100 people pardoned by Snyder over eight years..
