Fisher gets prison and probation in sex abuse case – Leader Publications

ST. JOSEPH — Buchanan attorney Lanny Fisher will spend the next year in prison and the next five years on probation after being sentenced Wednesday afternoon at the St. Joseph Courthouse.

Fisher pleaded guilty in late May to three counts of fourth-degree sexual abuse and two counts of misdemeanor prostitution – offering or soliciting the services of another person for prostitution. The CSC charges carried a maximum sentence of two years in prison, while the prostitution charges are a misdemeanor with 93 days in jail.

In addition to the five years of probation and three one-year prison sentences for the CSC charges, he was sentenced to two 93-day prison sentences for the prostitution charges, four of which were given credit, and all prison sentences were served concurrently.

Fisher must register as a sex offender for the next 15 years and pay $1,494 in fines and court costs. Restitution is pending.

The incidents to which he pleaded guilty occurred in Buchanan in 2020, 2021 and 2022.

Kalamazoo County District Court Judge Pamela Lightvoet spoke before the sentencing, calling Fisher’s sexual harassment of female clients sick, selfish and shameful. She was assigned the case after all Berrien County judges recused themselves from the appeal because they knew Fisher.

“I simply do not understand how you could have taken advantage of these people in their worst moments,” said Judge Lightvoet. “The maximum sentence is appropriate given your crime. I will stick to the agreement, but you could easily have gone to prison for your crime.”

“I certainly don’t think probation alone would be appropriate,” she added. “You had an ethical obligation to your profession and to women. All these women came to you in a vulnerable state and you took advantage of them. I think that was sick. I don’t know what was going on in your head that you would do that over and over again.”

The judge’s statements came after Fisher and his attorney Josh Blanchard spoke, as well as Berrien County Assistant District Attorney Cortney O’Malley and four of Fisher’s victims. The St. Joseph courtroom was packed with Fisher’s family and friends, other attorneys and victims and their families.

Fisher, 55, apologized to “everyone” affected by his actions.

“I’ve had time to think about it over the last 15 months,” he said. “I want to show that I can live a life without crime and improve myself. This will never happen again. I’m sorry for the people I’ve hurt.”

Blanchard called it a “tough case.” He said Fisher made some very bad decisions, but also some very good qualities.

“He made terrible decisions and is already suffering the consequences,” he said. “He lost his reputation and his career. He had to face up to what he did.”

He argued for a suspended sentence rather than a prison sentence, pointing out that Fisher had accepted responsibility for his actions because he had pleaded guilty rather than “no contest” and had already suffered the consequences of his actions.

O’Malley disagreed.

“It is important to recognize that he did this to seven women who were extremely vulnerable and susceptible to his manipulation and abuse,” she said. “He swore an oath to uphold the law and protect the most vulnerable. This was a persistent pattern of behavior.”

“He was the person they trusted most to keep their freedom,” she added. “You can’t predict what impact this will have on their lives in the future.”

Four victims came forward. Three said Fisher traumatized them all and changed their lives.

“This makes me angry,” said one young woman. “He used his position of power to abuse us. We were like yesterday’s garbage that was thrown away. He is a monster.”

A fourth victim said Fisher’s actions sent her life into a downward spiral of depression and anxiety. She stated that she felt threatened by Fisher when he told her he knew the judges, other lawyers and police officers, as well as criminals who owed him some favors.

Fisher was on trial in August on a total of 16 felony and misdemeanor charges dating back 10 to 12 years. The remaining charges that were to be dismissed – including one count of first-degree criminal mischief and one count of kidnapping – carry maximum sentences of life in prison or several years in prison.