A case that has taken nearly a year to wind through the courts reached its final chapter this week, as former Fitzgerald Public Schools Superintendent Hollie Lyn Stange pleaded guilty to possessing a weapon in a weapons-free school zone, the lone charge that remained after a series of major legal rulings earlier this year.
The Arrest: December 20, 2024
MDCR first reported on this case when Stange and former Food Services Director Amanda Gail Carroll were arrested after police said they were smoking marijuana in a vehicle within 1,000 feet of Fitzgerald High School. Officers stopped both women shortly after they left the area and claimed to find marijuana; in Stange’s case, they also reported locating a rifle in her vehicle.
Both initially faced multiple charges:
Hollie Stange:
- Possession of Marijuana on School Grounds
- Operating While Intoxicated
- Possession of a Weapon in a Weapon-Free Zone
Amanda Carroll:
- Possession of Marijuana on School Grounds
- OWI – Second Offense
- OWI with a Passenger Under 16
The Dismissals
In August 2025, prosecutors dismissed the OWI charges without prejudice, saying they were focusing on “the most serious and provable offenses.”
Then came the key ruling on September 4, 2025.
Judge John M. Chmura of the 37th District Court found that the Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marihuana Act (MRTMA) supersedes the Public Health Code’s 1,000-foot school-zone marijuana prohibition. As a result, all marijuana charges were dismissed for both Stange and Carroll — effectively ending Carroll’s case entirely.
The Final Remaining Charge
One charge still moved forward for Stange: Possession of a Weapon in a Weapon-Free School Zone, tied to the rifle police said they found in her vehicle.
On November 20, 2025, Stange pleaded guilty to that misdemeanor during a pre-trial conference. The offense carries a maximum of 93 days in jail, but under a plea agreement:
- The case will be dismissed upon her successful completion of an 11-month advisement period
- She must forfeit the firearm
- No additional penalties were imposed
Prosecutor’s Response
“It is deeply unfortunate that a school superintendent, someone entrusted with setting the standard for safety and leadership, would bring a weapon onto school grounds. In this community, we are all working tirelessly to prevent violence and ensure our schools remain secure. Her actions fell short of the example every educator and leader should uphold.”
