No contest plea entered for John Meixner
Central Michigan University philosophy professor John Meixner entered a plea of no contest this month for a disturbing the peace charge at the Mecosta County Agricultural Free Fair in July.
The no-contest plea, submitted Oct. 2, will prevent Meixner from facing any future civil suits stemming from the incident.
According to the Big Rapids Pioneer, Meixner was fined $345 for the charges. He was allegedly observed photographing young girls from below the waist at the fair.
The Mecosta County Sheriff's Department led the investigation. Police said the photographs "centered mostly on the buttocks and thigh area." Police also noted none of the photos contained faces and that each individual was fully clothed.
A warrant was issued, and Meixner was arrested on Aug. 7, Mecosta County Sheriff Todd Purcell said.
"We did take (his camera) into evidence that evening and did a forensic test on it," Purcell told Central Michigan Life in August.
Meixner, a 1990 recipient of the CMU Excellence in Teaching Award, was arraigned in Mecosta County’s 77th District Court on Sept. 4.
This marked the third time Meixner had been asked to leave a public place for taking photographs, Purcell said. It was the first time he was arrested for his photographs.
In 2005, Central Michigan University police were called and asked to respond to an incident in the parking lot of Wal-Mart, 4730 Encore Blvd., where he was allegedly seen taking pictures of women from his car.
Meixner's attorney, Daniel O’Neil, and CMU Director of Public Relations Steve Smith did not return requests for comment in time for publication.
