Jury at impasse in embezzlement case
Judge tells deadlocked group to resume Tuesday
Christina Hall
A Wayne County Circuit Court jury reported it was deadlocked on charges against attorney David Sutherland, who is accused of embezzling from trusts of former Carhartt leader and philanthropist Gretchen Carhartt Valade.
The jury deliberated about four and a half hours Monday, starting just before 9:30 a.m. It had a note about 3:20 p.m. indicating it was deadlocked.
Judge Paul John Cusick told jurors it had been a long trial and they had deliberated less than a day. He sent them home for the day, but told them to return Tuesday morning to continue deliberations. The trial began May 15.
The Michigan Attorney General’s Office accused Sutherland of embezzling millions from Valade trusts when he served as trustee of them.
Sutherland is charged with two counts of embezzlement over $100,000, one count of embezzlement from a vulnerable adult of $100,000 or more and one count of conducting
criminal enterprises.
Each charge is a 20-year felony offense, the attorney general’s office previously said.
The trial wrapped up Friday after closing arguments. During the trial, about two dozen witnesses testified, including Sutherland, who took the stand last week.
Sutherland’s attorney, James Joseph Sullivan, told jurors during his closing that no crime was committed and his client had authority as trustee to manage the funds, and kept a complete, accurate record.
Valade, a businesswoman, philanthropist and arts patron, died at her Grosse Pointe Farms home on Dec. 30, 2022. She was 97 and the granddaughter of Carhartt Inc. founder Hamilton Carhartt.
Sutherland was arraigned in January 2023, less than two weeks after Valade died.
Contact Christina Hall: chall@ freepress.com. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @challreporter.
Support local journalism. Subscribe to the Free Press.
Submit a letter freep.com/letters.