Following a Sept. 1 trial in Rochester Hills 52-3 District Court, former Addison Fire Chief George Spencer was convicted of malicious destruction of property under $200.
The misdemeanor charge stemmed from an incident in which Spencer damaged the door of an Addison firefighter’s home during a fit of anger, according to township Supervisor Bruce Pearson.
Spencer, who’s now chief of the East ley Fire Department in Yakima County, Washington state, was sentenced to one-year probation and must pay a $200 fine, $250 to cover prosecution costs and $60 in restitution.
Judge Nancy Carniak also ordered Spencer to attend a one-day anger management class, which he can do in his new home state.
Upon his completion of probation, Spencer can have the case deferred.
Pearson indicated Spencer accused the firefighter of contacting the government in Washington to discuss the circumstances that led to his March 2 resignation from Addison following nearly 11 years as chief.
‘He went to his house and started beating on the door,? Pearson said. ‘He broke the door and called him out to fight.?
It came out in court that the firefighter Spencer was accusing made no such call, according to the supervisor.
Spencer resigned from Addison following a December 2008 incident in which he made a $183.60 pay advance to a firefighter for hours he had not yet worked, even though they were recorded as such in records submitted to the township.
This led to an investigation by the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department.
No criminal charges were issued against Spencer, however, he voluntarily resigned his position after reaching an agreement with the township.
Spencer maintained he advanced the firefighter the money so he could buy his kids Christmas gifts.
The ex-chief said the firefighter subsequently worked the equivalent 20 hours to cover the pay advance.