“Today’s sentence is due to the bravery of the victim, who spoke out against an influential figure, and whose courage hopefully put an end to one man’s predation of young women in politics,” said Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel in a news release. “I am grateful to the prosecutors in my office, who will continue to seek justice for assault survivors, and bring accountability to offenders regardless of their positions of relative power.”   

Byrd, 40, pled guilty to aggravated assault in December while facing one count of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct. Other terms of Byrd’s sentence include a mandatory drug and alcohol assessment including any treatment ordered subsequently, sex offender counseling, prohibition from possessing firearms, and he may have no contact with the victim. 

He had been president of the South Central Michigan AFL-CIO chapter until his resignation in late March when the alleged incident came to light. He also resigned from his position as director of external affairs for the Michigan Laborers’ District Council of the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LiUNA).

Nessel’s office said that Byrd forcibly moved the victim’s hand onto his penis during a social gathering in Kalamazoo County in April 2022. Compared to the victim who worked in the same fields as him, Byrd had power and influence in the state, creating “a significant power imbalance” between the woman and Byrd, the office said. When the report came to light there were also concerns over who knew about the incident. 

Before the victim went to the police, state Rep. Jim Haadsma (D-Battle Creek) had organized a meeting between Byrd and the woman, with Haadsma saying he was unaware that the dispute was over a physical assault and not a verbal argument. Police confirmed that assertion during an investigation.

The final 50 days of the sentence of incarceration were ordered as suspended, pending Byrd’s successful completion of sex offender counseling during his first 40 days’ incarceration, satisfactory completion of a drug and alcohol assessment and monitoring, that he commits no additional crimes, and that all associated court costs and fees are paid.