Jessica Kropiewnicki only made matters worse when she severed her bonds to avoid conviction of an assault with murder.
Despite her exuberant apology on Wednesday, Judge James Alexander reprimanded the Lyon Township woman, who could have spent five years in jail if she had kept her good manners and not on the run.
He sentenced her to 180 to 360 months – up to 30 years – in prison.
Kropiewnicki, who was on the Lam for about three weeks, advocated no competition earlier this year to accuse her of being responsible for the Northville’s Aleksander Malec badly beaten in May 2019.
The victim had romantic interests in Kropiewnicki, and he testified that a seemingly happy, perky Kropiewnicki took him to a wooded part of the parish of Lyon and mentioned that this was a place where her dog Turbo had fun.
Co-defendant Christopher Simons is said to have waited with a bat. Attacked and hospitalized, Malec continues to suffer from seizures and ongoing trauma from his injuries.
“You had the opportunity to make amends,” said Alexander Kropiewnicki. “You had the opportunity to spend really little time behind bars and then move on with your life.
“And your crime is horrific. You hurt a guy who was in love with you. I don’t know if you were threatened or not. (But) you called Alex. You lured him into a terrible, terrible, terrible thing. Then instead of proceeding with the chance that you had a minimal sentence, you ran away. I am very disappointed.”
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Simons’ case continues to be heard in the Oakland County Circuit Court. He is next scheduled for a hearing in November.
Prosecutor Kelly Collins said Kropiewnicki, 26, knew Simons, 30, would attack Malec, but not to the extent “near death”.
Defense attorney Doug Oliver said the police report found Kropiewnicki said Simons, from Fowlerville, beat his client, threatened her and forced her to call Malec the night before the attack to schedule a meeting.
Simons also texted someone saying he didn’t know whether he would kill Kropiewnicki or live with her forever.
“My client’s intentions have not been determined,” said Oliver. “I disagree with the prosecutor that my client had willful intent to kill. The DNA was run on the bat gloves and bat. And my customer’s DNA wasn’t on the gloves or on the racket. There was DNA from her co-defendant, Mr. Simons. “
Kropiewnicki agreed Wednesday that she had done everything right – found employment, complied with the detention rules and even visited the Oakland County Circuit Court twice to seek a conviction that was on hold at least once.
Her fear grew and burst, causing her to panic and flee her grandparents’ home on September 1, the eve of her last conviction.
Shortly thereafter, the investigators visited the room in which she had been. According to the prosecutor, they found alcohol and learned that Kropiewnicki had hung out with men – not with the family, not with her lawyer – at the end of the driveway, clear violations of the orders.
When the police stopped her in traffic last week, she was with a man and had a bag full of white pills.
“Miss Kropiewnicki, every time you laugh, every time you shake your head, your sentence will be extended for another year,” warned Alexander during the sentencing.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “I don’t laugh. I get nervous.”
When she got the chance, she apologized to the court, her family, and Malec. She also stated that she continued to receive letters from the Northville man.
Malec had already asked the judge for the maximum sentence. He talked about flashbacks and didn’t know how big his physical injuries were. He doubts he’ll ever be the same again.
“She was indifferent and ignored my life,” Malec Alexander said of Zoom. “She had many opportunities and lots of time to help me, but she didn’t try to call 911 or get me help. I lost all respect, trust, and compassion for her.
“I’m not vengeful towards Jessica. I just want justice to be done to what they do. It took the life of my parents, my life and my sister’s life too. I am asking the court for the maximum sentence for this crime committed by Jessica. As one of my therapists told me – I’ve been to hell and back. ”
Contact reporter Susan Vela at svela@hometownlife.com or 248-303-8432. Follow her on Twitter @susanvela.
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