Calhoun County Woman’s Case Before Supreme Court

The Michigan Supreme Court will hear arguments Wednesday in the case of a Calhoun County woman convicted of molesting her adopted son in 2002.

55-year-old Lorinda Swain had been convicted of first degree Criminal Sexual Conduct, and sentenced to 25-50 years in prison after her adopted son accused her of sexual abuse.  However, Swain was granted a new trial 2009 after new evidence came about, including the recantation of the allegations by Ronnie Swain.

Calhoun County prosecutors have been appealing the decisions ever since, and now the case is before the state’s largest court.

Swain’s attorneys say that she received improper counsel, and that prosecutors withheld key evidence for the defense.  Prosecutors say that the jury made the right decision and that Swain must be returned to prison.