Michigan woman charged with witness intimidation
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — A Michigan woman was arrested on federal witness intimidation charges following an investigation that included U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
Davi Sarah Bailey, 28, of Battle Creek, was arrested on a federal criminal complaint that alleges she threatened the sister of a 16-year-old identified only by the initials K.P.
“This case should send a strong message that HSI and our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office will not tolerate threats to witnesses nor to law enforcement personnel,” said Steve Francis, HSI special agent in charge. “The recent rash of threats of violence specifically against ICE personnel is deeply disturbing and will not go unchallenged. Our personnel should be applauded for the work they do to keep our communities safe, not subjected to threats and harassment.”
K.P. testified at a federal trial last week that she was sexually exploited by a Michael Clayton. Clayton is the father of Bailey’s child. K.P.’s sister attended the court proceedings as support for K.P. The jury ultimately found Clayton guilty of sex trafficking a minor and producing child pornography using three girls, one of whom was K.P. The jury also found Clayton guilty of conspiring to distribute cocaine and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.
At Clayton's trial, he stood up in open court and directly threatened an HSI Grand Rapids special agent following his conviction on June 14, 2018.
It is a federal crime to threaten any person for the attendance of a witness at an official proceeding or the testimony given by that witness at the proceeding. In this case, the complaint alleges Bailey threatened K.P.’s sister for K.P. having attended and testified at Clayton’s trial. This charge is punishable by up to life in prison.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, June 26. The charges in a criminal complaint are merely accusations, and a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law
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