BAY CITY, MI — A Bay County Jail inmate is to spend the next several years in prison for providing a fatal batch of drugs to her cellmate. Kristine I. Campau, 35, on Monday, Dec.
23, appeared before Bay County Circuit Judge Joseph K. Sheeran for sentencing, having pleaded guilty in October to manslaughter and jail inmate in possession of contraband. The charges are 15- and five-year felonies, respectively.
Campau’s convictions stem from the overdose death of Jessica L. Ayers, a 41-year-old mother of four. His client seated beside him, defense attorney James F.
Piazza described Ayers’ death as a tragic situation, saying Campau had no intention to harm or kill anyone. Campau seconded this when she spoke. “I do apologize for all of this,” she said.
“If I could take it back, I would, and make the right decision.” Sheeran fashioned what he labeled a reasonable sentence under the circumstances. He sentenced Campau to concurrent terms of five to 15 years and 40 months to five years in prison.
He gave Campau credit for 422 days already served. Prosecutors dismissed a life offense of delivering a controlled substance causing death. They also agreed not to seek a habitual-offender sentencing enhancement.
Between 4 and 4:30 a.m. on Oct.
28, 2023, an inmate within the jail at 503 Third St. triggered a panic alarm in her cell after Ayers, her cellmate, went into medical distress, said Sheriff Troy R. Cunningham.
Corrections officers entered the cell and rendered aid, but Aye.