FLINT, MI – Flint resident Aaron Richards expected to come to court Wednesday afternoon to hear the announcement of his mental health court graduation.

What the 30-year-old did not expect to happen was Probate Judge Jennie Barkey to announce the clearance of his felony record.

Richards, who pleaded guilty in July 2021 to one count of unarmed robbery, began tearing up with his family by his side.

“I wanted to do backflips,” Richards said. “Today has meant freedom and I’m thankful for a clean slate on my record I thought I would never have. There were plenty of times I wanted to give up, but I had to fight mentally and emotionally.

Source: Mental health court graduation offers Flint man second chance