All criminal charges against Owosso barber Karl Manke have been dropped. Shiawassee County Prosecutor Scott Koerner dismissed the charges as a result of the Michigan Supreme Court’s recent ruling that Governor Whitmer’s Executive Orders prohibiting Mr. Manke from opening his barber shop and cutting hair were unconstitutional.
Mr. Manke no longer faces jail time, fines, or a criminal record for continuing to work throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. In a press release, Mr. Manke said, “I appreciate the Prosecutor dismissing all criminal charges against me in light of the Supreme Court’s decision. It is definitely a weight off my shoulders. I just want to earn a living, and I am not a health threat to anyone.”
There is still a case against Manke regarding administrative licensing action, and his trial is set to resume on November 19, 2020. Governor Whitmer’s administration is fighting to revoke Manke’s barber license for violating the EOs, but Mr. Manke is requesting that charges be dismissed since the EO’s were deemed unlawful and unenforceable.
Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand
