WLKM Radio 95.9 FM
A potential misdemeanor charge against St. Joseph County Commissioner Don Eaton will be decided by Cass County Prosecutor Victor Fitz.
The neighboring county was chosen Friday by the Michigan Attorney General’s Office to review the case. Eaton is an elected official and, following protocol, the matter must be delegated outside the county he represents.
The case against Eaton stems from a late-night incident July 29 at the Sturgis Applebee’s, where Eaton said he briefly had a pistol in his pocket. He said he grabbed the pistol from inside his truck and returned to the restaurant’s bar area to retrieve his wallet and keys.
The 52-year-old Eaton, who is in his third year as a county commissioner, faces a charge of possession of a firearm while intoxicated.
Cass County officials said Fitz will likely receive the report this week. A time frame regarding when he renders an opinion is not known.
