Former Wayne County CFO pleads no contest in domestic violence case

A former Wayne County chief financial officer accused of hitting his wife multiple times at their home in Detroit pleaded no contest Monday.

Tony Saunders II, 38, entered the plea during a hearing in 36th District Court in Detroit. His attorney, Todd Perkins, could not be reached Wednesday.

Sentencing is set for Nov. 26.

Saunders' bond was continued and GPS tether provisions remain in effect, according to 36th District Court online records. They also indicate Saunders is to be interviewed by the mental health treatment court as part of the presentence investigation report interview.

Saunders was a Wayne County employee at the time of the Jan. 10 incident and the Michigan Attorney General's Office referred the case to the Macomb County Prosecutor's Office.

Saunders is accused of hitting his wife multiple times in the face, chest and arms at their home in Detroit, according to a news release Wednesday from the Macomb County Prosecutor's Office. He was charged with a 93-day misdemeanor.

"We take matters of domestic violence seriously. When someone pleads no contest to harming their spouse, it is not just a legal issue, but a profound violation of trust and safety within the home. Our priority is ensuring that justice is served, that the victim receives the support they need, and that we send a clear message — domestic violence will not be tolerated," Macomb County Prosecutor Peter Lucido stated in the release.

Saunders was Wayne County Executive Warren Evans' former right-hand man and had a lucrative contract with the county that was terminated shortly after a Free Press column in February reported he had been accused of assaulting his wife.

According to the column, Saunders was a respected turnaround expert who was credited with helping Wayne County avoid bankruptcy when he was CFO from 2015 to 2017.

In a follow-up Free Press column in July, it was reported his estranged wife filed for divorce in May and in late June got a personal protection order against him. In her application for the order, according to the column, she accused Saunders of hitting her in October 2023 and included details about the January assault as well as another incident in Troy in June that generated charges of domestic violence.

An examination for Saunders is set for Nov. 18 in 52nd District Court in Troy on the charges of domestic violence, aggravated domestic violence and assault, according to online court records.

Contact Christina Hall: [email protected]. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @challreporter.

Support local journalism. Subscribe to the Free Press.

Submit a letter to the editor at freep.com/letters.