Michigan lieutenant governor candidate arrested on felony larceny charge

CORUNNA, MI – A candidate for lieutenant governor of Michigan has been arrested and charged with felony larceny.

Beau Parmenter, 45, was arraigned in Shiawassee County’s 66th District Court on Sept. 10 for one count of larceny by conversion between $1,000 and $20,000. If convicted, he faces up to five years in prison or a fine of up to $10,000 or three times the value of the stolen property.

Parmenter pleaded not guilty and was released from jail after posting bond Thursday, said his attorney, Daniel Barnett.

Parmenter is the running-mate of Anthony Hudson, who is running as a Libertarian for Michigan governor in the November 2026 general election. Hudson declined to comment Thursday.

Parmenter is accused of taking a $2,500 deposit from a couple in a May 2025 transaction involving Country Barn Estates, an event venue Parmenter owns, Barnett said.

Barnett denied the allegation and said Parmenter had no involvement in the disputed transaction. He called the charge “malicious and frivolous.”

“We believe that at the preliminary examination, this case is going to be dismissed because there will be no evidence whatsoever that Beau did anything improper,” Barnett told MLive.

Court records show a warrant was issued for Parmenter’s arrest in March. Barnett said Parmenter was completely unaware of the outstanding warrant prior to his arrest.

Parmenter’s bond was set at $10,000 cash, which he posted Thursday.

He is next scheduled to appear in court for a probable cause conference on Sept. 23. His preliminary examination is scheduled for Sept. 29.