Michigan Sheriff, Convicted of Rape, Faces 30 Years in Prison
A jury convicted a longtime sheriff Thursday of raping a woman at a law enforcement convention last October, rejecting his claim that the sex was consensual.
Macomb County Sheriff William Hackel, 58, faces up to 15 years in prison on each of two counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct.
He will be held in the Isabella County Jail pending sentencing at an undetermined date.
Hackel, who has been sheriff in his suburban Detroit county for 23 years, clenched his jaw as the verdicts were read in Isabella County Circuit Court.
Defense attorney James Howarth said that Hackel’s wife of 24 years, Ada, was “devastated” at the verdict.
In 1995, Hackel decided against switching parties to run against Democratic U.S. Rep. David E. Bonior, despite overtures from Republicans, including then-House Speaker Newt Gingrich of Georgia.
The woman testified that on Oct. 11 she agreed to have lunch in her room with Hackel. Once inside, she said, Hackel tried to undress her and ignored her when she twice asked him to stop kissing and groping her.
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