Former prosecutor Clarence Gomery is in jail after a court imposed a $5 million bond for his release pending trial on charges that he tried to arrange to have attorney Christopher Cooke killed in a murder-for-hire scheme. The bad blood with Cooke is believed to stem from his representation of Gomery’s former business client in a heated litigation.
Gomery, 59, is charged with felony solicitation of murder — a bizarre twist on a career that included his service as a former Leelanau County prosecutor and Grand Traverse County assistant prosecutor. He is accused of trying to pay handyman Dale Fisher $20,000 to kill Cooke.
In 2013, Gomery faced Cooke in a business fraud case involving Fred Topous Jr., Gomery’s former business partner. The jury found Gomery committed fraud and malpractice and ordered Gomery to pay about $315,000 in sanctions for attorney fees and other costs. Gomery knew Fisher from his dock and hoist removal business.
The offer included not only the money but allegedly $1,000 to purchase a gun to be used to kill Cooke.
It always surprises me in these cases that defendants trust relative strangers with such plans, particularly a former prosecutor who had to deal with his share of snitches.
Sources: Record and ABA Journal
They both went to Cooley Law School. What else do you expect from Cooley alumni?
He was described only as a “local lawyer” on the tv news here on the south end…no mention of ever being a prosecutor, an interesting omission of an illuminating detail.
Corruption in the state of Michigan is profound and it burrows a little deeper every day.
We saved the photo and made a print for the outhouse here at the marina. We figure that he will scare out the vagrants, rats and cockroaches.
I’ve thought about killing a lawyer or two, but that’s part of my fantasy life. Someone who actually followed through must be reallllly p.o., or a bit unhinged.
what! it’s unlawful to kill a lawyer in michigan? daily bag or size limits i can understand or maybe out of season, but none, at all, ever?
nothing good can come of this.
@rtc
You might want to check the spelling. She is Squeaky Fromme. I am Squeeky Fromm. I am a girl reporter. She is not.
Thx!
Squeeky Fromm
Girl Reporter
Squeeky: That’s not an Irish poem, it’s a limerick, no connection to the city.
As someone who was living at the time the Manson murders, I can tell you there’s nothing cute, funny, or cool about Lynette Fromm or anyone else connected with that gruesome group of losers.
Darren,
Very well heeled individuals live in that area of the state. Your question is valid. They have better sea worthy vessels per capita than Florida.
One has to wonder what other shady deals this former prosecutor involved himself with under his authority.
That Gomer Pyle fellow is a dorky looking thing.
I was indicted by Clarence Gomery in 1997 in Cleveland Township, Leelanau County MI. The 3 counts were violating the State Construction Codes, specifically having an electrical outlet and a toilet without permits and occupying my new home without a Certificate of Occupancy. After reading this you will probably want to “slide down the group W bench, as in Arlo Guthry’s Alice’s Restaurant. Judge Micheal Haley, s good man, started the jury trial in the 86th District Court by saying”why are we here? In the end my $185 Public Defender William Brott could not even do the one I asked him to do in my defense was tell the jury they could disregard the judge’s instructions and find me not guilty on all counts, which the jury had already voted to due just that at their lunch break according to the jury foreman Dave Hill. This is called jury nullification allowed under the US Constitution which is not something Gomery and Leelanau County follow. Recommended reading for Leelanau authorities, something I think is called the Bill of Rights and other concepts like equal protection, LOL. Welcome to 85 percent GOP NW lower Michigan. Steve Saffell
I was indicted by Clarence Gomery in 1997 in Cleveland Township, Leelanau County MI. The 3 counts were violating the State Construction Codes, specifically having an electrical outlet and a toilet without permits and occupying my new home without a Certificate of Occupancy. After reading this you will probably want to “slide down the group W bench, as in Arlo Guthry’s Alice’s Restaurant. Judge Micheal Haley, s good man, started the jury trial in the 86th District Court by saying”why are we here? In the end my $185 Public Defender William Brott could not even do the one I asked him to do in my defense was tell the jury they could disregard the judge’s instructions and find me not guilty on all counts, which the jury had already voted to due just that at their lunch break according to the jury foreman Dave Hill. This is called jury nullification allowed under the US Constitution which is not something Gomery and Leelanau County follow. Recommended reading for Leelanau authorities, something I think is called the Bill of Rights and other concepts like equal protection, LOL. Welcome to 85 percent GOP NW lower Michigan.
Hey Paul – you out there today?
I need help in Los Angles) with getting a trailer made on the Racketeering item for HBO’s Project Greenlight.
AY
BS gets time of day and real cases get buried.
It’s the way of the ebol world!
Laser,
I could not agree with you more. I will say that the reason bail is set in this case as high, is he’s monied. I am amazed that these charges are leveled against him.
Hmmm, stupid is putting it mildly. Oh well, time for an Irish Poem!
Damn The Torpedoes!!!
An Irish Poem
by Squeeky Fromm
There once was a lawyer named Gomery
About whom, here comes a brief summary:
He lost big in court
‘Stead of being a sport,
He hired a torpedo. What dumb – ery!!!
Squeeky Fromm
Girl Reporter
“It’s no wonder that truth is stranger than fiction. Fiction has to make sense.” – Mark Twain
I am a little disappointed Prof Turley is not more surprised that a lawyer is involved in such a crime. It almost seems like criminal deeds like this are not seen as being abnormal among the legal profession. The good prof has a real uphill battle to restore and keep the legal profession’s reputation and hopefully as a teacher one hopes that he can improve it from that venue.
$1,000 for a gun!!!
This was not going to be a personal protection gun for which you spare no expense.
This was a one time use throwaway gun – estimated cost $200.
One of the first lessons that they teach in business school is controlling your costs. Mr. Gomery will probably have plenty of spare time to do some remedial studying while in prison.
There’s so much malfeasance transpiring in Michigan that I’d (almost) give up my career battle against Mitt and join those seeking justice there.
However, Pitten’s gang is part of the problem. I’m already assisting (as much as an out-of-stater can) the battles against tyranny, cronyism and corruption in Michigan (including the University thereof being involved in cover up of sexual assault and what is called “Chi-com” transfer of weapons secrets). And the state, itself, may wind up in bankruptcy.
That is, of course, unless the filing paper is not of proper weight;
and the font of the filing isn’t errant!
(you have to be there to “get” that one)