It seems there is such a thing as a “Get Out of Jail Free” card, and, for 87-year-old Howard Arthur Klein of Grand Rapids, Michigan, that card was his age.
Howard was one of three men arrested as part of a Grand Rapids MI Police prostitution sting back in June. Howard and two other men, 35-year-old Paul Alan Leys and 22-year-old Felipe Reuben Manuel, allegedly solicited an undercover female police officer. Both Leys and Manuel were ticketed and booked, while Howard was merely cited at the time and not booked due to his age.
Howard was arraigned July 8 and faced a maximum of 93 days in Jail if found guilty.
But the bachelor, who has a completely clean criminal record, caught a break. On September 1, Kent County Prosecutor William Forsyth revealed that Howard would not be prosecuted for the charge. “What would be the purpose in prosecuting him? ” Forsyth asked. “He wouldn’t and shouldn’t go to jail, and 87 years without involvement in the criminal justice system has, in my opinion, earned him a pass.”
Here’s a photo of Howard Arthur Klein in court with his attorney, Stacy VanDyken, on August 6th from an MLive article about the prosecutor’s decision:
A crime-free life has its advantages
Posted by Barton Deiters on Tuesday, September 1, 2015
“I could see no compelling reason to continue to prosecute Mr. Klein on the ticket he was issued for accosting and soliciting,” Forsyth added. “He is 87 years old with absolutely no criminal record. In addition, I am told he struggles to some degree with dementia.”
Howard’s issues with dementia seem to be supported by his claims that he thought the undercover police officer was a woman he knew from his church. Police did not reveal what was said between the two.
