Attorney: Correction officers death is tragic outcome in marijuana butter case [Posted by Heidi Fenton | hfenton@mlive November 17, 2014, 12:40 PM] KENT COUNTY, MI — The attorney for a former Kent County sheriffs sergeant facing drug charges called the mans sudden death Sunday tragic after more than two decades of faithful law enforcement service in the county. Timothy Bernhardt, 49, spent 22 years with the Kent County Sheriffs Department and was most recently a sergeant. He was forced to give up his job when he pleaded guilty in October to a reduced charge of maintaining a drug house, which carries a maximum sentence of two years in prison. Sentencing was slated for Dec. 11. The outcome is tragic and his family is understandably devastated, attorney Matthew Newberg said Monday, a day after learning of his clients passing. Kent County Sheriffs authorities declined comment on the longtime sergeants death, saying by email we typically do not comment on any suicides. Newberg said he had just spoken with Bernhardt on Friday. Bernhardts guilty plea came after the Kent Area Narcotics Enforcement Team on March 17 raided the Belmont home of Timothy and Alyssa Scherzer, who were acting as medical marijuana caregivers. Police said Timothy Scherzer was acting as a medical marijuana caregiver for sheriffs deputies Michael Frederick and Todd VanDoorne, and for Christine Tennant, the wife of Deputy Brian Tennant. Alyssa Scherzer was the caregiver for Bernhardt, of Rockford. The four corrections employees were receiving packaged marijuana butter. The butter is made by heating ground cannabis buds and butter on a stovetop. The plant matter is then strained, and the butter can be used in cooking and as a spread. Though Frederick, Bernhardt and VanDoorne had medical marijuana cards, the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act does not protect patients who consume edibles, such as the marijuana butter. Local attorney Bruce Block earlier called the case a witch hunt over a hyper-technicality in the law. The men made an inadvertent mistake, Block said. Tennant and Bernhardt accepted identical plea deals. As part of the deal, both were forced to resign and would have to testify against VanDoorne and Frederick in any further court proceedings. Bernhardt, Newberg said, was proud of his longtime service with the sheriffs department and his career in law enforcement. Others also thought highly of him. The day of Bernhardts guilty plea, as he left the courtroom, he was embraced by other sheriffs deputies waiting outside. That speaks volumes to his character and his legacy, Newberg said. Bernhardts wife, Jody, wrote in a Facebook post Monday of her husbands strong dedication, encouragement and love for his family. Tim was the most honorable man I ever met in my life, she wrote. He was a private man ... but always encouraged me to persu(e) my dreams. Please pray for peace in our family, she wrote.
Posted on: Mon, 17 Nov 2014 18:38:59 +0000
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