Trooper found guilty of driving ORV impaired, no license sanctions imposed.

Seymour

By Allison Scarbrough. Contributing Editor.

LUDINGTON — Michigan State Police Trooper Sammy Sidney Seymour, Jr., was found guilty, Feb. 5, 2016, in 79th District Court of operating an ORV while impaired.

Initially charged with operating while intoxicated, which requires driver’s license sanctions, Seymour’s sentence for operating an ORV while impaired does not include any driver’s license sanctions. The operating while intoxicated charge was dismissed.

Editor’s note: Seymour was charged under MCL 324.81135 (1) which pertains to the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act and restrictions on use of an ORV, including (a) The person is under the influence of alcoholic liquor or a controlled substance, as defined by section 7104 of the public health code, 1978 PA 368, MCL 333.7104, or a combination of intoxicating liquor and a controlled substance. The original charge under MCL 257.625, Operating While Intoxicated, was dismissed.

Seymour’s sentence includes one day in jail with credit for one day served; outpatient treatment, which his court file indicates he has completed; $870 in fines and costs; 93 days discretionary jail for one year; and his ORV privileges are suspended for 90 days.

The 42-year-old Seymour, who lives in Ludington, was placed on administrative duty following his Jan. 17, 2015 arrest pending the outcome of the judicial process.

UPDATED INFORMATION: Seymour is currently working road patrol for the Cadillac MSP post, according to MSP spokesperson Sierra Medrano. There is an internal investigation regarding his criminal conviction, Medrano said.

Seymour’s drunk driving trial last May ended as a mistrial due to a hung jury. The six jurors could not come to an agreement, and 79th District Court Judge Pete Wadel declared a mistrial.

Testimony during the trial never referenced an ORV. A voicemail inquiring about the case left at Mason County

Sammy Seymour watches testimony during his criminal trial last May.

Prosecutor Paul Spaniola’s office has not been returned.

Seymour’s sister, 45-year-old Kimberly Sue Septrion of Ludington, was a passenger in his vehicle the night he was arrested and attempted to kick the back window out of a Mason County Sheriff’s Office patrol car; assaulted a Ludington police officer; and resisted a county deputy.

Septrion pleaded no contest Feb. 17, 2015 to attempted assaulting/resisting/obstructing a police officer. Wadel sentenced her to one day in jail with credit for one day served; $590 in fines and costs; and may not possess/buy/use alcohol or illicit drugs.

Seymour and Septrion were arrested Jan. 17, 2015 at the intersection of Loomis and Delia streets following a traffic stop at 2:19 a.m. by the Ludington Police Department.

Seymour was previously assigned to the MSP Hart post.

* This story was edited to include the sentence at the end of the second paragraph that the operating while intoxicated charge was dismissed.