December 5, 2024
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Prosecutor Tim Rutkowski, 989.269.9255
On December 4, 2024, a Huron County jury found Tanner Carr, 38, guilty of three counts of Assault with Intent to do Great Bodily Harm, one count of Felonious Operation of a Vessel, and one count of Reckless Operation of a Vessel.
The Investigation
The charges arose out of an investigation by the Huron County Sheriff’s Department. On February 23, 2024, Huron County Dispatch received to a call for help. The victim told the responding Huron County Deputy and Sergeant that he, his father, and his friend were ice fishing on a canal or “cut” at the end of Kilmanagh Road in Sebewaing Township. While fishing, the defendant came down from the bay onto the canal driving an airboat. When coming into the cut, the airboat was breaking up the ice. The victim and defendant have known each other for decades, but several years back, there were issues that resulted in the two of them no longer being friends. When the defendant stopped the airboat, he started to say a few things to the victim, who ignored the defendant. After yelling at the victim and the victim’s father, and being told to settle down, Carr then started the airboat and floored it at the victim. All three of the people on the ice ran for shore, however only two made it safely. The victim’s father fell through the ice. When the victim and his friend were not able to pull his father out of the water, he ran to his nearby residence to get a rope and along the way was able to get help from a good Samaritan. Between the three of them and using the rope, they were able to pull the victim’s father out of the freezing water. The father suffered injuries to his hands due to the length of time he was in the water. When the officers spoke with the defendant the day after the incident, the defendant stated he was not there, and that he was being framed for what the victim said happened.
The defendant was arraigned on February 28, 2024, on three counts of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, and two misdemeanor offenses. The case was later amended to three counts of Assault with Intent to do Great Bodily Harm, Felonious Operation of a Vessel (Airboat), Obstructing or Interfering with sports fishing, and Reckless Operation of a Vessel.
The Jury Trial
The jury trial started on December 3, 2024, and went into the evening of December 4th in the 52nd Circuit Court. Judge Gerald Prill presiding. The case was tried by Chief Assistant Prosecuting Attorney David J. Wallace. The evidence included the testimony of the three men on the ice as well as the person who was with the defendant on the airboat, along with several pictures, and the video of the defendant’s statement to the police. The defendant also testified admitting that he had lied to the police, stating he was there on his airboat, but that he had no intent to harm anyone and that he was just trying to turn the airboat around. During the trial, the court dismissed the charge of Interfering with Fishing.
After approximately an hour and 45 minutes of deliberation, a jury of six women and six men found Carr guilty of all the remaining counts. After the verdict, there was a short bond hearing to determine if the defendant’s bond should be revoked. The Court heard from the victim and argument from the attorneys, and then continued the bond with the added condition that the defendant must wear a GPS tether. Sentencing was set for February 3, 2025, at 9:00 a.m.
When asked about the case, Timothy Rutkowski, Huron County Prosecutor noted:
This is another great example of law enforcement responding to the needs of the citizens of this county. There was a thorough investigation by the Huron County Sherriff’s department which presented the case to this office for prosecution. Mr. Wallace represented the People of this County professionally and ably, bringing all the elements of the case together, so the jury had everything it needed to find the defendant guilty. It was a team effort.
The three primary charges, Assault with Intent to do Great Bodily Harm carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
