Tavaris Jackson's defense team rested their case Wednesday. In this photo, Michigan Assistant Attorney General Caitlin Kirby addresses Judge John Economopoulos regarding recently recorded jail calls between Jackson and his parents. (Sophie Vogelmann | Daily Press)

ESCANABA – Allegations involving a former Delta County Sheriff’s Department sergeant and other witnesses became a point of contention Wednesday during Tavaris Jackson’s murder trial.

Jackson’s defense team, which consists of attorneys Diane Kay-Hougaboom and James Maki, rested its case Wednesday morning without calling any witnesses. Jackson had stated that he did not wish to testify.

According to statements made in court, a woman named Rylee Hughes contacted with Sgt. Thomas Lewis of the Delta County Sheriff’s Office during his investigation into Harley Corwin’s murder. Lewis was referenced in one or more witness testimonies during the trial, including by searchers who discovered Corwin’s body.

On or about July 16, 2023, Lewis contacted Hughes to arrange for her to meet him at his house. He had also been consuming alcohol.

The Michigan Court of Appeals detailed the incident in a July 22, 2025, decision.

“During the investigation into [Corwin’s] death, a witness contacted Sergeant Lewis and texted him a video from a social media application that had been posted by the victim,” wrote the appellate court. “Sergeant Lewis responded, ‘you better not be holding out,’ stated that he was too drunk to drive, and invited the witness come to his house.

Judge John Economopoulos said Wednesday there had previously been debate about what “holding out” meant, but he understood it to mean withholding information related to the case rather than a sexual implication.

The appellate court continued describing the July 2023 incident between Lewis and Hughes, stating, “When the witness arrived at his house, Sergeant Lewis told her that if she was holding out on him that he would get her in trouble for dealing cocaine. Sergeant Lewis also asked the witness to spend the night at his house. He then threatened to report her alleged issues with cocaine. Later, he invited her to kiss him and send him sexually explicit photographs of herself. She acquiesced because of his earlier threats. After the encounter, the witness filed a citizen’s complaint against Sergeant Lewis with the Delta County Sheriff’s Department. There was also an investigation by the Michigan State Police.”

It was further stated in court that Hughes allegedly sent Lewis sent inappropriate photographs of himself to her, but those alleged photographs were not presented at the trial.

Neither Lewis nor Hughes testified in Jackson’s trial. Hughes’ potential testimony would only present parts of the overall incident, as the jury would not have heard from Lewis.

Economopoulos addressed the matter Wednesday, stating, “I’m not endorsing whatever happened between these two people on that date. There are a thousand things wrong with it, but that’s not the point.”

Economopoulos ruled that Hughes’ testimony could confuse the jury, particularly without proper context if Lewis himself did not testify.

“In my opinion, if the jury can only receive fragments of the story because of the barriers that the rules of evidence provide otherwise, it will heavily confuse the jury,” said Economopoulos. “They won’t know what to do with it.”

Economopoulos added, “This isn’t an issue anymore of cross-examining Sergeant Lewis to preserve confrontation rights. It is in reference to examining a witness other than Sergeant Lewis and presenting extrinsic evidence of statements that Sergeant Lewis made through vehicles that are simply not available.”

Kay-Hougaboom addressed the judge, arguing that the issue is related to the defense’s broader claims about how the investigation had been handled.

“Your Honor, the defense’s position through the entirety of the trial has been that the investigation overall in regard to Mr. Jackson was in some cases bungled with things like improper handling of evidence, not taken seriously, and done in a completely unprofessional way…”

She further argued that a reasonable jury could conclude that if a police officer was intoxicated or engaging in inappropriate behavior – such as sending sexualized images to witnesses – while actively investigating a case, it suggests the officer was not putting full effort into the investigation and was not following police procedures. She said that reinforces broader concerns raised by other witnesses about the quality of the investigation.

Another issue discussed Wednesday morning involved recently recorded jail calls between Jackson and his parents.

Michigan Assistant Attorney General Caitlin Kirby said she was recently sent recorded jail calls of Jackson directing questions to his parents about speaking with an individual named Tina, who is on the prosecution’s witness list but did not testify.

Tina was identified as Bianca Xheka’s mother. Xheka shares children with Jackson and has been referenced in testimony throughout the trial.

“I would ask that the family that was in the phone call be removed from these proceedings, because they obviously did not follow the court order and I don’t know if they’re speaking to a witness,” Kirby addressed to Economopoulos.

After a brief recess, the defense formally rested its case. Both sides of counsel delivered closing arguments to the jury Wednesday afternoon before they were sent to deliberate on a verdict.

Jackson is charged with one count of open murder – a felony punishable by up to life in prison – in the death of his ex-girlfriend, 22-year-old Harley Corwin. Her body was discovered on July 8, 2023, across from Fuller Park in Ford River Township.

Jackson is also charged with one count of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, a two-year felony, and one count of assault resulting in the death of a fetus, also punishable by up to life imprisonment.

He remains lodged in the Delta County Jail.

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Sophie Vogelmann can be reached at 906-786-2021 or svogelmann@dailypress.net.