By JAMES MITCHELL
Sunday Times Newspapers
SOUTHGATE — Former Southgate Police Officer Emmanuel Paravas remained in custody awaiting sentencing after being acquitted of rape, but being found guilty of felony misconduct in office.
Paravas is expected to be sentenced June 4 by Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Annette Berry, and faces up to five years in prison.
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Maria Miller said the conviction warranted the decision to remand Paravas to the Wayne County Jail.
“We are pleased that the jury considered the evidence introduced and convicted the defendant of misconduct in office,” Miller said.
The question of sexual contact between Paravas, 44, and the plaintiff in the case was settled with the former officer’s admission when interviewed by Michigan State Police investigators.
In January, the plaintiff — a traveling adult entertainer — arrived in Southgate in advance of her appearing at a night club the following night. The woman admitted that she began drinking heavily throughout the late afternoon and evening, which initiated heated arguments with her husband.
Southgate police were called to the La Quinta Inn, 12888 Reeck Road, for a disturbance call. Paravas was the lead officer responding, and due to the woman’s aggressiveness and intoxicated state, it was decided that she should be taken to another hotel for the remainder of the night.
After settling the woman into a room, Paravas returned twice and had sexual relations with the woman during the second visit about 3 a.m.
During testimony in Wayne County Circuit Court and in preliminary examinations, the woman said she remembered little of the night other than waking to find Paravas in her room demanding sexual favors.
Paravas denied that he forced the woman to have sex or that he handcuffed her, which she claimed. During his admission of sexual contact, Paravas told State Police he knew he’d made a mistake, and that whatever he might say could result in “rolling the dice” in front of a judge and jury.
Shortly after the February interview with State Police investigators, Paravas was given a Garrity hearing before resigning from the Southgate Police Department in March.
(James Mitchell can be reached at [email protected])