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Text messages of former Alpena County Undersheriff indicate corruption

ALPENA, Mich. — Former Alpena County Undersheriff, Terry King is back on the public radar since text messages from his work phone have been released.

The messages, which were accessed through the Freedom of Information Act, contradict statements King made regarding the Alpena City Police investigation of an armed gunman at the Ella White Elementary School in 2018.

King resigned last summer after Sheriff Steven Kieliszewski advised King he planned to terminate his job.

In a letter to King that was later released to the public, the sheriff stated that his decision was the result of no longer being able to trust King’s judgment as the undersheriff. One reason for the loss of trust was King’s suspected tampering with the Ella White investigation. The messages from King’s phone clearly show King texting Eric Watkins, the husband of Beth Watkins. King instructs him not to let his wife take the polygraph offered by the Alpena City Police. Beth Watkins is the former teacher at Ella White who reported the incident to police.

King has flatly denied that he ever advised anyone not to take a polygraph or that he had any improper involvement with the case. The text messages seem to contradict King’s statements. We’ll keep you updated as more details emerge.

 

Click this link to read the text messages between King and Watkins, released through the Freedom of Information Act.