While victims said in statements that their encounters with the former judge were violent, he said he was remorseful and had been in a dark place.

Earlier report: Calkins sentence: 1-5 years in prostitution case

Former Monroe County First District Judge Jarod M. Calkins was sentenced to prison Thursday for participating in violent acts related to prostitution that left multiple women with physical and emotional scars.

In a packed courtroom, visiting Washtenaw County Circuit Judge Archie C. Brown sentenced Calkins to one to five years in state prison — with no possibly for alternative incarceration — on four felony counts of misconduct of a public official.

The Monroe County Circuit Court bench requested that a visting judge be assigned to the case.

Beginning in 2016, Calkins, 41, used several dating sites to arrange meetings with women as young as 19 whom he paid for sex. Many of those encounters were described as violent and involved sadomasochistic tools allegedly used without consent from the participants.

“I really have a hard time justifying the physical abuse,” Brown said during the sentencing held in Monroe County 38th Circuit Court.

A Carleton resident, Calkins, who resigned as a judge in June, previously was charged with five counts of prostitution for the crimes involving at least four women. One of those charges was a felony for transporting a person into, through or across state lines for the purposes of prostitution.

In September, those charges were dismissed and replaced with four felony counts of misconduct of a public official for which he entered a guilty plea.

Initial charges were dismissed in an effort to allow the four victims to remain anonymous, according to the Department of the Attorney General, which prosecuted the case.

While their identities were not released, two victim advocates read impact statements on behalf of the women detailing each encounter with Calkins.

Victims ranged from 19 to 22 and each was described as being vulnerable and naive, according to prosecutors.

Encounters with Calkins were described to have been initiated through dating sites like OkCupid and Tinder. Calkins initiated the encounters, which were held at area motels and his home; the women were not soliciting.

While the women said they initially thought the encounters would be “fun” or “playful,” they said activities became “painful” and “torturous.”

One woman said an encounter, which included choking and electrocution, felt “like a beating” and created bruises and welts that lasted up to two weeks and left her with permanent nerve damage.

Another victim said she was “frightened for (her) life.”

“He would pull me in with sweet messages and then torture me when we were together,” Victim 1 said. “He was aggressive and used physical control.”

Most victims said they now suffer from post-traumatic stress, have struggled with trusting men and must attend frequent counseling sessions.

Despite victim testimony, William P. Godfroy, a Monroe attorney who represented Calkins, argued that the encounters were consensual and discussed prior to the meetings. He said the victims would not have continued to meet with Calkins had the encounters been brutal.

Michael G. Frezza, head of the Public Integrity Unit for the Department of the Attorney General, disagreed.

“To say this was a consensual activity is insulting to the victims … No one consents to be beaten. No one consents to being electrocuted,” Frezza said. “We are lucky that none of these victims ended up dead.”

Before his sentence was imposed, Calkins was given the opportunity to speak before the court. He thanked the Michigan State Police for the investigation that he said pulled him out of a dark place. He said he was truly remorseful.

“I was isolated. I was attempting to fill a void,” Calkins said. “I’ve failed my wife, family and the community … I did not maintain the moral standards that go along with (being a judge).”

Calkins was remanded to the Michigan Department of Corrections.

Earlier reports in the case:

March 9: Judge Calkins arrested for prostitution March 13: Monroe County officials ask state to reassign Calkins case April 12: Calkins case heads to higher court April 25: Calkins announces intent to resign June 1 June 3: Calkins resigns, new judge to be named to district court bench July 24: Michael Brown named to District Court vacancy Aug. 23: Calkins prostitution case to go to trial Sept. 5: Calkins pleads guilty to four added felony charges Nov. 29: Calkins sentence: 1-5 years in prostitution case