Former Kalamazoo Township manager takes plea deal in eavesdropping case

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (WOOD) — The former Kalamazoo Township manager accused of eavesdropping on the township board has pleaded down to a misdemeanor charge.

Dexter Mitchell on Monday pleaded no contest to willful neglect of duty by a public officer. In exchange, a charge of eavesdropping was dropped.

The case against Mitchell stemmed from March 3, 2023 , when he allegedly recorded a closed-session meeting of the township board with the township attorneys. A search warrant said Mitchell was caught on surveillance video placing something behind a table before the meeting. After the meeting, surveillance spotted him come back and get something. MSP later found the recording on a device at Mitchell’s home when they searched it.

The warrant shows the township supervisor told investigators that Mitchell had fired three people in the past six months, so the supervisor believed Mitchell thought the meeting was about him.

Mitchell was fired by the township board on Feb. 21, days after he was charged.

Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 30.

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