Gay Sex Craigslist Ad Ends Up To Be Trouble For Eaton County Commissioner Spence

Through a FOIA request on his name and address, an Eaton County Sheriff Department investigation reveals what happened.

Eaton County Commissioner Howard Spence endured a very eventful evening the night of February 11, 2016. After taking in a performance at the Wharton Center, Commissioner Spence drove to Lansing to pick up a man that he had been in contact with earlier from a Craigslist post he had answered advertising sexual relations. The twenty four year old ex-convict from Lansing, Barry Smith was then driven by Howard Spence to his home where they used the hot tub and then went downstairs for massage. Shortly after that, things began to go horribly wrong.

If it were not for his own actions that allowed these events to happen by choosing to respond to a complete stranger on Craigslist, advertising for gay sex, Commissioner Spence would not have been a victim. After viewing a photo line-up of individuals including the suspect, Howard Spence could not make a positive identification of him to the ECSD. We believe Commissioner Spence chose not to ID the suspect so as not to cause further actions by the Eaton County Prosecuting Attorney's Office that would have exposed this incident publicly, perhaps in a courtroom trial setting. 

Howard Spence has placed himself in a position of being a possible target for blackmail by not only this recent, ex-con but any individuals in the past or future that he chooses to consort and have intimate relationships with that have ulterior motives. His reckless behavior has jeopardized not only his own safety but any sensitive information that he has been entrusted with concerning Eaton County as a Commissioner, clearly, could be compromised. 

Behavior this irresponsible is well beyond an issue of poor judgment or a moral lapse. As constituents we should expect exemplary behavior from our elected officials, this is the complete opposite. It’s quite obvious that, Howard Spence has not respected or taken seriously the trust that the people of Delta Township have extended to him with their District’s seat and County affairs.

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Craigslist Ad

Suspect, Barry Bernard Smith

Suspect, Barry Bernard Smith Believed To Be Dressed As A Woman

Suspect, Barry Bernard Smith