A Traverse City hand surgeon who vandalized multiple properties owned by Old Mission Peninsula developer Kevin O’Grady has been serving his time.
According to court documents filed in the Grand Traverse County 13th Circuit Court, Mark Leslie, founding physician and partner with Hand Surgery of Northern Michigan, was ordered and has paid $7,500 in restitution and $1,025 in court costs and fines after pleading guilty to two misdemeanors: stalking and attempted malicious destruction of a building less than $200.
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Leslie originally faced two felony charges of malicious destruction of personal property greater than $1,000 but less than $20,000.
The court also granted Leslie the right to serve only weekends in jail, giving him the ability to perform surgeries during the week. Leslie has served four weekends in jail and also completed ten days of community service work. He will be on probation until February 2021.
Last year, we reported that Leslie admitted to vandalizing the Bluff Road home of O’Grady in July, spray-painting “Land Raper” on the breakwall and “Land Rapist” on the road in front of his home, with an arrow pointing to the home.
“Land Rape” was also painted on the entrance signs on both sides of the road leading into “The 81 on East Bay” development on the corner of Bluff Road and Boursaw Road. Leslie, an Old Mission Peninsula resident, was caught on security camera footage.
“The 81 on East Bay” has been re-named Peninsula Shores, and homes are currently being constructed there.
Kevin O’Grady’s son Kyle, a realtor with Re/Max Bayshore in Traverse City who is handling the sale of the lots and homes, said at the time, “It’s a lot more than a guy with a can of spray-paint.”
“It’s stalking,” he said. “It’s multiple pieces of property, not just one and not just one time.”
The development was the subject of controversy in Peninsula Township when it moved through the Planning Commission and Township Board. After multiple lawsuits and public hearings, the Peninsula Township Board approved the development by a narrow vote of four to three on Dec. 17, 2017.
Read all of Old Mission Gazette’s coverage of “The 81 on East Bay” here.
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Mark Leslie reattached my thumb after a work accident that would normally have left me with one less digit. He’s a good man with a good heart. If he believes in a cause, I have to believe it’s worth it. Know who he is before you cast any judgments, he is a believer in the best world.
Amen we might need him some day that’s what they make erasers for too erase away the mistakes.
My sentiments exactly! Mark is a truly wonderful human. So giving and kind to others.
Don’t know him but always heard amazing things about him. I am NOT going to judge.
Where’s the cancel culture? What does defacing public property (the road) have to do with a private development. Good man or not a mistake was made and a punishment was handed down. Sure, don’t judge, but the time has passed for stopping the development. Just because some are angry about it doesn’t justify the action. It shows a lack of judgment on his part, and is just plain petty. Like it our not you have new neighbors coming.
This is the best hand surgeon in the country I lost half my thumb in an accident he was able to fix it and I am doing great.
I’ve heard the same from other folks who’ve had him as a doctor!