NEWS RELEASE
CHIPPEWA COUNTY PROSECUTOR
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The Chippewa County Prosecutor’s Office successfully argued in front of the Michigan Court of Appeals in the case of People of the State of Michigan v Dale Pavlat on Aug. 6, 2024, in Detroit.
The defendant was seeking application for leave to appeal and requesting the Court to allow him to withdraw his guilty plea. Dale Pavlat Sr. was sentenced on Aug. 31, 2021, to 7-30 years in the Michigan Department of Corrections for kidnapping a special-needs, non-verbal child.
On April 29, 2020, the child wandered from her home and law enforcement and the community came together to search for her. A command post was established at the Lake Superior State University and approximately 100 volunteers showed up and assisted with search efforts. The response from our community and concern for the child’s well-being was tremendous.
The child was ultimately located in the apartment of Dale Pavlat. Sault Ste. Marie Police Department executed search warrants of the premises obtaining evidence including video surveillance. They accompanied the child to the hospital for medical attention and secured the medical records that would later be used to prosecute the defendant.
The child was returned to her family that day, and the investigation continued. Ultimately, the defendant was convicted of kidnapping the child and will serve at least seven years in prison before becoming eligible to plead his case before a parole board due to the Court of Appeal denying the Defendant's motion.
Prosecutor Stratton states, “The most terrifying experience any parent can have is a missing child. During that time, every possible thing that can happen flashes through the parent’s head. The police and community did an excellent job of finding and returning this child to her home. Unfortunately, there are evil people in our community who take advantage of that sort of situation, and they must be prosecuted to the fullest extent possible. The sentence of 7 years to 30 years does not go nearly far enough in protecting the community or punishing the defendant, but that is the maximum sentence permitted by law in this case.”
Sometimes cases do not end at sentencing but my office will continue fighting for victims not just in our local courts but also in the Court of Appeals and Supreme Court. The Written Opinion from the Court of Appeals can be found below.
People of the State of Michigan vs Dale Rayfield Pavlat
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