Declercq to pay $48K annual prison cost
Convicted sex offender from Grosse Pointe faces $1M+ over 25 years
Robert Allen “Bob” Declercq, a former Morgan Stanley wealth manager from Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan, will be paying the $48,417 annual cost of his incarceration.
Michigan law allows the state to pursue collection of incarceration costs if/when an inmate has assets to pay. He entered into a stipulated settlement to resolve the legal claim this month.
Declercq, 72, was sentenced to a minimum of 25 years in August by Judge Casandra Morse-Bills after an Oscoda County jury found him guilty in May on two counts of first-degree criminal sexual assault involving his granddaughter. The prison record lists the date of offense as May 23, 2020, when the victim was 3 years old.
Financial details of the order
Heather Donald, an assistant attorney general in the Michigan Department of Attorney General Collections Division, represented the Michigan State Treasurer in the most recent court action. It also named as defendants: Declercq’s son Robert S. Declercq of Grosse Pointe Park, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC wealth management in Plymouth, Michigan, PNC Bank in Cleveland, Ohio, and Stifel, Nicolaus & Co, Inc. investment bank in St. Louis, Missouri.
(Bob Declercq worked at Morgan Stanley until 2021, according to his professional summary on the Securities and Exchange Commission website. His son, a former financial advisor at Morgan Stanley, joined Stifel, Nicolaus in 2025 as a managing director of investments, according to his LinkedIn account.)
The Oscoda County Circuit Court, as the sentencing court, has jurisdiction over the prisoner reimbursement, according to court documents obtained by Shifting Gears on Wednesday, March 25.
Costs to Declercq as of March 3, 2026 totaled $27,320. “Prisoner Declercq’s cost of care continues to accrue each day he remains incarcerated,” says the stipulated final order dated March 16, 2026.
He is serving time at the Chippewa Correctional Facility in Kincheloe, Michigan, in the Upper Peninsula. His son is named as the legal power of attorney.
Assets identified as subject to the state treasurer’s claim include a PNC Bank checking account, a Morgan Stanley Roth Individual Retirement Account (IRA), two Stifel, Nicolaus IRA accounts and funds on deposit in Declercq’s prison account.
How payment works, hearing pending
The prisoner shall withhold the federally required amount of funds for tax purposes, not to exceed 10%, an amount that shall be deducted from the money awarded to the state treasurer, says the final order.
His $27,320 debt to the state is reduced after tax withholding, so Declercq’s son “shall remit funds (and) the approximate amount of $24,588” to the state treasurer within 45 days from the date of the stipulated order. Payment is to be sent to Heather Donald at the Department of Attorney General, Collections Division, in Detroit. “Robert A. Declercq” and prison number “838631” must be printed on the face of the payment, the court document said.
If Declercq remains in the physical custody of the Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) after March 2, 2027, he will be responsible for paying his full cost of care in the amount of $48,417 for each year, or portion of a year, that he remains in the physical custody of the MDOC, the court document said. Taxes will continue to be deducted from money owed.
These payments shall be due on April 30 of each year. If they are not paid, accounts will be garnished. Declercq’s earliest release date is April 28, 2050. His maximum discharge date is April 28, 2085.
The prisoner is permitted to distribute money from any of his accounts to pay additional federal and/or state tax as needed, the court document said.
Medical costs, bills
Also, Declercq may withdraw and distribute money from any of his accounts to pay his Medicare premiums until the conclusion of his appeal process and shall also be permitted to withdraw and distribute funds to pay for any medical bills, if any, not covered by the Michigan Department of Corrections, the court document said.
Prior to sentencing, the court allowed Declercq to get dental implants. He had cancer that spread to his throat, esophagus, lymph nodes and teeth. Teeth had to be removed during gum surgery. His cancer is in remission, his trial lawyer told the court in May.
Unfrozen accounts, property transfers
Upon entry of this stipulated order, the freeze on Declercq’s assets ordered on Feb. 12, 2026 has been lifted. He and his authorized representatives shall not transfer, assign or otherwise dispose of any of his identified assets while he remains in state custody.
Michael Dezsi, Declercq’s lawyer handling the appeals, declined to comment to Shifting Gears on the latest developments.
The Declercq case is closely watched throughout the competitive sailing community. He is the son of a Great Lakes sailing legend whose boat “Flying Buffalo” dominated the Port Huron to Mackinac Island races for years. Bob Declercq was removed from the Hall of Fame at Bayview Yacht Club in Detroit after his criminal conviction. U.S. Sailing officials reviewed safety protocols following publicity surrounding the case.
A hearing on the Declercq motion for new trial is scheduled for May 18.
Declercq coverage: Shifting Gears has been the only media outlet to provide comprehensive coverage of the Declercq case as part of its overall commitment to covering issues related to the sailing community. Read about his conviction here. The crime victim here. Child witnesses in sex assault cases here. The sentencing here. Postponement of a second sex assault trial here. Claims of alleged text between judge, juror stalling appeal here. Judge denying text allegations here. Failing to get trial judge tossed here
More:
Declercq case stalled by alleged contact between judge, juror
Judge denies alleged wrongdoing, raises question of pressure campaign
Alleged texts, eye rolls fail to get judge tossed from Declercq case
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Well, this Michigan State law is fascinating - imagine if, at the end of this administration, members of the cabinet and others were prosecuted and sentenced to prison time!
If a federal law for certain crimes like insider trading or foreign/domestic profiting while acting as a government envoy or special government employee like Elon Musk or Jared Kushner could be billed for the costs associated with their trials and incarceration. And let's not forget any members of Congress similarly implicated.
Hmmmmm? 😊😊😊🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦