A Canton Township woman accused of running over her then-husband has taken a no-contest deal to assault with a dangerous weapon and domestic-violence charges, prosecutors said. The plea was entered on Monday in Macomb County Circuit Court in Mount Clemens by 39-year-old Alaina Fain.
Plea and charges
Prosecutors say the charges trace back to an incident in which Fain allegedly drove over her then-husband, leading to felony assault and domestic-violence counts. Fain entered a no-contest plea to assault with a dangerous weapon and domestic-violence charges in Mount Clemens, according to The Detroit News.
What a no-contest plea means in Michigan
Under Michigan court rules, a nolo contendere (no-contest) plea is treated the same as a guilty plea for sentencing and other criminal-law purposes, even though the defendant does not have to formally admit guilt. Judges must confirm that the plea is voluntary and that defendants understand the consequences before accepting it, according to the Michigan Court Rules. In everyday terms, the court still treats the plea as a conviction at sentencing.
Next steps
It was not immediately clear whether a sentencing date had been scheduled in the case, according to The Detroit News. If the court formally accepts the plea, the case will move to sentencing, where potential penalties could include jail time, fines or probation, depending on the judge’s decision and any plea agreement.
Background
Public records and prior local reporting show Fain previously appeared in area courts on older charges that were later reduced and resolved, according to coverage by the Belleville Independent. That earlier reporting underscores how criminal cases in the region can stretch over multiple years and move through several courts before they are finally closed.
