Preliminary exam held for ex-legislative aide charged with embezzlement in now-defunct earmark project

Preliminary exam held for ex-legislative aide charged with embezzlement in now-defunct earmark project

Former officials with the nonprofit Complete Health Park in Clare testified Tuesday in a preliminary exam for former legislative aide David Coker, who faces embezzlement charges tied to the now-defunct project. Terrance Powell, a friend of Coker’s, told 54A District Court Judge Kristen Simmons he had no prior financial experience when Coker asked him to serve as treasurer for the nonprofit that landed a $25 million state grant in 2022 to develop…