Tavaris Jackson

ESCANABA — Tavaris Jackson, of Escanaba rejected a plea deal from the prosecution during a hearing Friday. Jackson is accused of murdering his pregnant ex-girlfriend, 22-year-old Harley Corwin and leaving her body in O.B. Fuller Park last year.

Towards the end of the proceedings, prosecutors Caitlin Kirby and Shawn Ryan extend a plea deal to Jackson.

“The offer is that the defendant agrees to plead guilty to count one, second degree murder and count two as charged, the assault (of) pregnant individual intentionally causing miscarriage (and/or) still birth, each as a fourth habitual offender. The people agree to dismiss count three,” Ryan said.

The sentence would have been for 40 to 80 years with credit for time already served.

Defense Attorney Diane Kay-Hougaboom said that she and her client were aware of the plea offer prior to the proceeding.

“I’ve taken it to my client (and) we’re ready to proceed with trial,” Kay-Hougaboom said.

The prosecution then asked the court to ask Jackson directly.

Economopoulos asked Jackson if he understood the plea offer and if he had the time to consider it.

“Yes, I’m not gonna take it,” Jackson replied.

Economopoulos explained to Jackson that if he is to reject the plea offer and go to trial, the offer will no longer be available to him.

“We make this offer from the perspective that we have provided discovery and we intend to introduce evidence at trial of DNA lab analysis from the Michigan State Police lab showing blood was found on the defendants glove and his slides (shoes),” Ryan said.

She added that they also have phone data that shows Jackson was in the park at the scene of the Corwin’s death for a significant amount of time.

Economopoulos gave Jackson one more opportunity to consider the plea offer, but Jackson did not accept it.

Seconds after the rejection, the plea offer was taken off the table.

“I would just like to note now that the plea offer has been formally rejected (for) the record that is not standing offer and that is now revoked,” Kirby said.

Additionally, the prosecution motioned to revoke phone privileges for Jackson after they say he violated his bond agreement. One of the bond’s conditions was that Jackson could not have any contact whether direct or indirect with the family of Harley Corwin or others key to the case.

Kirby said that the prosecution received a report from the Delta County Sheriff’s Office that states a sergeant was listening in on inmate calls and identified Jackson as speaking to someone on the list of individuals Jackson was not to contact.

The prosecution said that the phone call between Jackson and the individual was a direct violation of the bond agreement and therefore should have his phone privileges revoked. The judge granted the prosecution the order and revoked phone usage for Jackson.

Economopoulos emphasized that what was bing taken away was not a right, but rather a privilege.

Jackson’s trial is scheduled for Aug 5.