|
|
| Mich. Prison Official Fired Over Hostile E-Mails |
| By Lansing State Journal |
| Published: 03/24/2003 |
|
The state prison official accused of sending threatening anonymous e-mails to the wife of a prisoner was fired March 7. Michigan Department of Corrections spokesman Russ Marlan said last week that Michael A. Powell, a 22-year employee of the department was terminated after internal affairs investigators found Powell guilty of violating several work rules. Marlan declined to say which rules Powell broke but confirmed that the firing was a direct result of the e-mails. Department rules prohibit Corrections employees from contacting relatives of prisoners for any reason other than official business. Powell's firing ends a six-week investigation that began when the State Journal relayed to department officials copies of e-mails sent to Amiko Kensu, who lives in Swartz Creek, 40 miles northeast of Lansing. Kensu, whose husband is serving a life sentence for murder at the Carson City Correctional Facility, said she had traced the anonymous e-mails to Powell. The hostility expressed in the e-mails disturbed Kensu because she knew that Powell, as the department's manager of Prisoner Affairs, exerted direct influence on the welfare of prisoners. 'Here's a guy who has the right to deny my husband medical care,' Kensu said. Powell, who supervised seven employees, evaluated and responded to prisoner grievances. The prisoner, who was Fred Freeman when he went on trial, later changed his name to Temujin Kensu. He denied involvement in the killing. His friends created a Web site decrying his incarceration and proclaiming his innocence. The five e-mails were sent in mid-January, under the screen name 'Greatlakesdiver,' to Amiko Kensu and the Web site. Some excerpts: *'I will celebrate the day Freeman ... croaks in prison and will do all I can to ensure it happens.' *'I can only hope that you encounter a (expletive deleted) like Freeman and that the (expletive deleted) MURDERS a loved one of yours.' *'Freeman's right where he belongs and will take his last worthless breath there.' *'With any luck, Freeman's infirmities will catch up with him and kill his sorry (expletive deleted).' Amiko Kensu saw hints in the e-mails that suggested they might have come from somebody inside the Department of Corrections. She said it worried her to think that somebody 'so angry' had power over prisoners. Through some detective work on the Internet, Amiko Kensu discovered that a person using the name 'Greatlakesdiver' had written an e-mail to the editor of a shipping magazine, signing it, 'Mike Powell, Eaton Rapids, MI.' Amiko Kensu recalled seeing the same name on some of her husband's prison forms and noted that both Mike Powells lived in Eaton Rapids. Amiko Kensu tried to bring the matter to the attention of her state senator. But an aide to the senator, after reviewing some of the e-mails, saw no threat in them and took no action. |
advertise
|
privacy policy
|
add URL
|
about us
|
terms/disclaimer
|
contact us
|
join our team
|
help
If you’re looking for a lawyer in Waco, you’ll need to know that the first to hire Dunnam & Dunnam usually wins. If you have a personal injury claim, an insurance claim, or other matter involving a court or business transaction you should contact the Best Waco Law Office to explain your legal rights. You can contact them on the website link above.