Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced the filing of charges Thursday against former Grand Traverse County Jail Administer Todd Ritter, who is accused of committing multiple felonies while employed at the jail.

Ritter, 48, was put on administrative leave by the Grand Traverse County Sheriff’s Office in April 2019 after reports of his unprofessional conduct began surfacing. Michigan State Police led the investigation into the allegations following an internal review by the Grand Traverse County Sheriff’s Office in May 2019. Nessel agreed in April 2020 to review the case after a petition was submitted by the Grand Traverse County prosecutor, who requested the review to avoid any actual or perceived conflict of interest. 

Ritter is facing charges including:

> Embezzlement by a public official over $50, a 10-year felony
> Larceny in a building, a five-year felony
> Second-degree criminal sexual conduct, a 15-year felony
> Common law offenses – misconduct in office, a five-year felony
> Willful neglect of duty, a one-year misdemeanor

"The laws of this state and country do not offer special exemptions for those in positions of power," Nessel said in a release. "It is my duty to enforce our laws and hold accountable anyone who fails to comply with those rules, regardless of the authority provided to them by their job title."

Ritter was arrested Thursday by Michigan State Police troopers without incident at his home. He is expected to be arraigned on the charges at 1pm today (Friday) before Magistrate Tammi Rogers in 86th District Court.