A civil lawsuit accusing former Washtenaw County corrections officer Kenric Mukrdechian of requesting sexual favors from an inmate in exchange for pizza has been formally settled and dismissed, according to court records.
Case Closure
The dismissal was ordered by U.S. District Judge Matthew Leitman on March 12, closing the case against Mukrdechian. The lawsuit, filed by Lindsay Babiarz, followed allegations that Mukrdechian asked her to undress after giving her pizza during a late-night jail shift in October 2018.
- Details of the settlement have not been made public
- Both parties’ attorneys declined to comment
Background of Allegations
Babiarz, who was an inmate at the time, testified that Mukrdechian:
- Sneaked pizza to her and her cellmates during a shift
- Asked her to eat the pizza in a way that avoided jail cameras
- Gestured for her to expose herself, which she alleged she complied with
- Later showed her pictures of her son from social media and continued making sexual requests
Criminal Case History
Mukrdechian previously pleaded no contest to an attempted common law offense in 2022 and received three years of probation. A common law offense applies when no specific statute dictates punishment for the misconduct.
Following the allegations:
- Mukrdechian was placed on administrative leave
- He resigned the next day
- An internal investigation found violations of multiple policies and standards of official conduct
Civil Proceedings
During the civil suit, Mukrdechian requested summary judgment, a ruling without a full trial. The request was partially granted, but the case ultimately settled before a judgment could be issued.
This settlement formally concludes the civil claims against Mukrdechian, ending a case that drew attention for its serious allegations involving abuse of authority and sexual misconduct within a correctional facility.