Washtenaw County commissioner candidate reaches plea agreement in hit-and-run crash
A Washtenaw County commissioner candidate pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge stemming from a hit-and-run crash that injured a teenage pedestrian.
Joe Baublis, 50, made the plea agreement to one count of leaving the scene of an injury accident at his scheduled preliminary hearing in district court, records show.
A felony charge of leaving the scene of crash resulting in serious injury will be dismissed at sentencing on Sept. 2, said Joe Simon, Baublis’ attorney. Simon declined further comment.
Baublis will appear on the Nov. 2 ballot as a Tea Party Republican candidate for the open 11th District commission seat that represents parts of Ann Arbor and Ann Arbor Township. He faces Democrat Yousef Rabhi, who defeated Mike Fried by one vote in Tuesday’s primary election.
Baublis did not return messages from AnnArbor.com. Police said the crash occurred April 19 near the Packard Road and East Stadium Boulevard intersection at about 5 p.m. A 17-year-old boy was taken by ambulance to the University of Michigan Medical Center with non life-threatening injuries.
Art Aisner is a freelance writer for AnnArbor.com. Reach the news desk at news@annarbor.com or 734-623-2530.
Comments
dtaa
Mon, Aug 16, 2010 : 12:26 p.m.
Leave politics out of this. As part of Annarbor.com's job to inform the public, they should obtain and print the appropriate portions of this police report (Leaving Scene of Injury Accident #10-2735). Info might include PORTIONS of the: booking info, prisoner information form, vehicle impound form, pictures related to the report, and medical records for the victim. Do your job AA.COM!
Hemenway
Wed, Aug 11, 2010 : 10:38 p.m.
Joe Simon is a very good attorney, too good on some accounts.
other
Wed, Aug 11, 2010 : 11:59 a.m.
Elizabeth - I see your point. On his flier, though, HE'S calling himself a Tea Party Republican (a description), and he's holding a sign that says NO TAXES.
diagbum
Tue, Aug 10, 2010 : 8:35 p.m.
Yousef Rabhi is on the record as supporting community service for non-violent offenders. I wonder if Yousef Rabhi will support community service for Joe Baublis's sentence?
Elizabeth
Mon, Aug 9, 2010 : 10:15 p.m.
"Baublis will appear on the Nov. 2 ballot as a Tea Party Republican" Unless Mr. Baublis is running as an independent with his own party called the Tea Party Republicans, I'm pretty sure that his name be showing up on the ballot as a Republican. Please correct me if I am wrong. For instance, one would never say that, "Bernero will appear on the Nov. 2 ballot as a Pro-Choice Democrat". This does not seem to be unbiased reporting if you ask me.
RobertinSaline
Mon, Aug 9, 2010 : 4:29 p.m.
In Baublis' own words: "The courts, and other county functions should belong to the People and should function to benefit of the People." [after reading http://www.annarbor.com/elections/voter_guide/1/washtenaw-county-board-of-commissioners-district-11/joe-baublis/, I wonder who the 611 people were that agreed with this guy in the primary election?] The day this accident happened was clear, 63 degrees, at 5 pm. Whatever would possess a Normal person to leave an accident after hitting someone with their car? Baublis' responses to annarbor.com about his plans show that he is an extremist that has "ongoing battles" and is very argumentative. Please before you vote for someone, read what they are about.
tommy_t
Mon, Aug 9, 2010 : 2:26 p.m.
Thank you - that would seem to imply money can by influence. Dumb me and I thought justice was blind, well maybe only for poor people. Seems down right crooked and the path well greased both down and up.
Old Salt
Mon, Aug 9, 2010 : 1:18 p.m.
I agree, usually the victem has nothing to say about it UMLESS he knows the right people or is a public official or has plenty of monry to afford a high price lawyer, the average citizen has nothing to say..Period.
Chuck
Mon, Aug 9, 2010 : 1:09 p.m.
Well at least we all know he cuts and runs when the going gets tough, and we see how much integrity this man lacks, so NO VOTE from me.
Steve the Wookiee
Mon, Aug 9, 2010 : 11:07 a.m.
How does one appear on a ballot as a "Tea Party Republican"? It will simply say (R) after his name, no?
Inside MI GOP
Mon, Aug 9, 2010 : 11:07 a.m.
Has anyone pulled the police report from the State's Attorney's file?
Ricebrnr
Mon, Aug 9, 2010 : 9:03 a.m.
Nice to know that battery with a deadly instrument causing injury id "only" a misdemeanor...
Some Guy in 734
Mon, Aug 9, 2010 : 8:48 a.m.
Does the Tea Party platform approve of health care coverage if their own candidate hits you?
scooter dog
Mon, Aug 9, 2010 : 7:36 a.m.
Usually they,the victim has nothing to say about it. The whole plea system "sucks" big time.
tommy_t
Mon, Aug 9, 2010 : 6:34 a.m.
In these plea deals how much, if any, say or influence does a victim have? How does the whole plea to a lesser charge work?