Cops are human, too

"Whatever happened was certainly consensual."

He probably had OTC relationships with both. He may/may not have lied about his occupation. When he didn't make a payment, or said the wrong thing, they alleged he did this and that.

Ten counts of criminal sexual conduct. WOW. This State Trooper went way over the top. It would be interesting to follow up on this case as it works its way through the courts. I am sure he is not going to get life imprisonment, especially if he has NO criminal record. And it is hard to believe that if he had a criminal record of ANY kind he could be a State Tropper. I imagine at the very least his career is over. The voyeur in me really wants to know what REALLY happened between him and those two strippers. The defense may be able to prove they have not been 100% truthful in all their dealings with patrons etc. Interesting case, to say the least.

You mean Cops are hypocrites too.

I agree Dudester, no money = no consent. As a man and especially a member of the system, he should have known the risks he was taking.

Yeah, arbeeguy, if I knew when the trial was going to take place, I'd like to drive up to Lansing to see it happen, and how the cop gets treated.

Convertino, the trooper's lawyers, is a former Asst. U.S. Attorney, now suing the Department of Justice for accusing him of failing to disclose evidence to the defense in the first post 9-11 terrorist trial in the U.S. Yes, it's a long story.

"Donovan faces up to life in prison if convicted. "

That sounds like an awfully harsh punishment considering this is based on the testimony of strippers, one of which had consensual sex and the other was willing to come to his house.

Here are some updated details: UPDATED 1:31 PM - LANSING - A woman testified today during a preliminary hearing that a Michigan State Police trooper she had met at a strip club repeatedly sexually assaulted her at a Lansing home where the trooper had stopped supposedly to get money and a credit card. The trooper is charged with sexually assaulting two women. Today's hearing in 54A District Court determines whether the case goes to trial. The woman, who was a waitress at Cheetah's, in south Lansing, said Trooper Joseph Donovan, 48, a regular at the club, offered to give her a ride to a diner the night of March 17, 2008. The woman testified he made her feel comfortable, and when they arrived at the house, he asked her to go inside because he had been recently divorced and didn't want the neighbors to see him with another woman. Once inside, she said, Donovan eventually approached her and forced her into a bedroom, where the assaults occurred. She testified that she has blacked out some of the memories of the incident. "I have night terrors about this over and over," she said. The State Journal does not identify victims of sexual abuse. She said she screamed so much that she wondered whether neighbors would call police. "All I remember is yelling," the woman said. "I did not want to do it." She said she eventually stopped fighting. "I knew it wasn't going to be over until he said it was over. So I gave up," she testified. The woman had to leave the witness stand during cross examination, because she was being affected by anti-anxiety medication she had just taken. Testimony is expected to resume this afternoon. Donovan, of DeWitt, is charged with 10 counts of criminal sexual conduct. Six of the counts are first-degree criminal sexual conduct, which carries a maximum penalty of life in prison. Donovan has been placed on unpaid suspension, officials said. He is free on a $50,000 bond. The alleged assaults happened in March and April 2008, according to court documents. Donovan met both women at Cheetah's, authorities said. Donovan's attorney, Lawrence Emery, told the Lansing State Journal in October the charges are false. Emery said his client passed polygraph tests, and there is no scientific evidence connecting Donovan to any crimes. The 21-year veteran of the state police was assigned to the Lansing post. The Genesee County prosecutor's office is handling the case, because Ingham County Prosecutor Stuart Dunnings III recused his office. Read Friday's Lansing State Journal for more on this report. m.lsj.com