About the STAR Treatment Court

STAR Treatment Court Team

Judge: Honorable Manvel Trice III
Prosecuting Attorney: John McColgan
Defense Counsel: Millicent Shek

Coordinator: Scott Bickel
Case Manager: Jennifer Kellerman
Director of District Court Probation: Nathan O'Neil
MDOC Agent: Ted McAfee
Domestic Violence/Trauma Services [URR]: Linda Gleesing
Lieutenant/Sheriff Representative [SCSO]: Sgt. Heather Beyerlein 
Co-Occurring Therapist: Megan Smith, Michelle Schmitzer
Co-Occurring Therapist: Mallory Erndt, Jenna Kolb

Saginaw County 70th District Structured Treatment And Recovery (STAR) Program

In October 2017, the Saginaw County Sobriety Treatment Court team attended National Training in El Paso, Texas. In February 2018, our program, now known as STAR (Structured Treatment and Recovery) became operational. Funding for the program comes from both state and federal sources through the State Court Administrator’s Office which in turn, monitors the STAR Program for compliance with established principles and statutory requirements (see MCL 600.1060 et seq).

Problem Solving Courts are designed to be non-adversarial and use a team approach to address underlying substance use, mental health, and untreated trauma issues. Evidence-based practices are employed as a sentencing alternative that provides life-saving treatment to people living with serious addiction and mental health conditions. Judge Manvel Trice III presides at the weekly pre-court staffing and review hearing. In addition, there is a full-time defense attorney, and case manager. Representatives of various agencies make up the remainder of our Star Program Team: Michigan Department of Corrections, District Court Probation, Saginaw County Sheriff’s Office, Saginaw County Prosecutor’s Office, LIST Psychological, and the Underground Railroad. Specialized training to operate the program has been provided to our team members by the National Drug Court Institute and the Michigan Association of Treatment Court Professionals.

A defendant who participates in the STAR Program is required to serve a term of probation with intensive supervision for approximately 18 to 24 months, which may include residential SUD treatment for 90 to 180 days or longer. Participants must meet specific requirements as they progress through several phases of the program. These requirements include individual and group counseling, curfews, community service, weekly attendance at self-help meetings (e.g., Alcoholics Anonymous), regular contact with a case manager, frequent and random drug and alcohol testing, and random home visits, day or night. Sometimes electronic monitoring in the form of a tether or alcohol monitoring device is utilized. In addition, participants must appear before the judge weekly each month in the first two phases of the program and every other week thereafter.

The number of participants in Saginaw County generally ranges from 18 to 24 defendants. Since the first graduation celebration in 2020, 46 participants have successfully completed the program, graduated, and been discharged from probation. The Saginaw STAR Program is committed to improving public safety, transforming lives, and assisting participants in making long-term changes that enable them to maintain a crime-free, sober lifestyle.

For more information about the STAR Program for alcohol offenders in Saginaw County, contact Coordinator Scott Bickel - sbickel@saginawcountymi.gov.