Busy day in Circuit Court Monday

Judge Philip E. Rodgers, Jr. was busy in Circuit Court yesterday and the Leelanau County jail and Department of Corrections are more crowded as a result.

Rodgers sentenced Gertrude A. Shorter of Maple City to 16-60 months in prison for killing a 5 year-old boy in July 2012.  Shorter, 63, pleaded guilty to Failure to Stop at the Scene of an Accident Resulting in Serious Impairment or Death.  She was the driver of a vehicle that struck and killed Gavin Punter as he rode his tractor/trike next to his grandmother on the shoulder of a Centerville Township road.

Shorter was also ordered to pay $16,015.63 restitution and $1,398 fines and costs.

Tacha M. Milk, 29, was sentenced to prison on two unrelated convictions.  Judge Rodgers gave Milk 23-84 months for Delivery of a Controlled Substance and 23-60 months for Attempted Home Invasion 2nd Degree and Possession of a Stolen Firearm.

Milk sold drugs to an undercover Traverse Narcotics Team detective in Elmwood Township and later stole a handgun from the Bingham Township residence of an acquaintance.   The gun was recovered by the Traverse City Police Department after Milk brandished it at a party.

Raymond J. Stein, 30, was given 6 months in the county jail after pleading guilty to Delivery of a Controlled Substance.  Stein, of South Boardman, was arrested in March 2013 on drug delivery charges.  He was the last of 4 suspects to be sentenced for selling prescription pills to an undercover TNT officer in Elmwood Township. Stein will also have 24 months of supervision after his release. 

Co-defendants Jennifer Stein, Amber Stein and Tyler Morris have already been sentenced.  Jennifer, 31, of Fife Lake, received 30 days in jail for possession of drugs.  Amber, 27, also of Fife Lake, was given 90 days in jail for drug delivery.  Morris, 26, of Bellaire, got 120 days for drug delivery.  All will have periods of supervision upon their releases. 

Stanley E. Thompson, 72, pleaded guilty to a reduced sex charge Monday.  Thompson, of Centerville Township, was originally arrested for 2nd Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct involving sexual activity with a child under 13, a 15 year felony.  Judge Rodgers accepted his plea to a reduced charge of CSC 4th degree, a 2 year misdemeanor.

Thompson remains free on bond and will be sentenced July 22.

Leelanau Township man sentenced for shooting grandson's dog

David M. Priest, 70, was sentenced to 45 days in jail by District Court judge Michael Stepka after being found guilty by a jury of Careless Discharge of a Firearm >$50.  Leelanau County deputies investigated the report made by Priest's grandson that his grandfather had intentionally shot the grandson's dog.  The dog was on Priest's property when it was shot.  It was treated by a veterinarian and recovered.

The court record indicates that Priest shot at the dog from his deck with 7 1/2 shot as it came onto his property.  Priest's grandson lives next door to him and the dog reportedly went onto Priest's property often.  He denies trying to hit the dog and testified that if he wanted to hit the dog he would have "shot it in the head". 

Priest remains jailed pending an appeal of the conviction by his attorney.

Probation violator arrested

Leelanau County deputies arrested a 20 year-old Centerville Township man Monday for violating probation on his impaired operation conviction.  Peter J. Rennie pleaded guilty in December 2012 and was given 1 year probation for a September 2010 crash.  He remains jailed pending a Friday District Court appearance.

Four arrested on warrants

Four other people were arrested Monday on Grand Traverse and Leelanau County bench warrants.  Tribal Police arrested Devon L. Bennett, 23, of Suttons Bay, on Grand Traverse County warrants.  He was turned over to GT deputies for transport to their facility. 

GTB police also brought in Mistyrose Chippewa, 21, Suttons Bay, for Failing to Appear in a GTB truancy matter.  She remains lodged on a $300 bond.

A 24 year-old Suttons Bay man was arrested by Tribal Police on a Domestic Violence warrant.  The man was a passenger in a vehicle being driven by the victim of the assault, which occurred earlier in the month.  He is jailed without bond pending a Tribal Court appearance. The driver, a 25 year-old Suttons Bay woman, was cited for Driving with a Suspended License and released.

Leelanau Corrections officers went to Midland County to pick up Brandon J. Wilson of Midland on a Friend of the Court bench warrant.  Wilson, 39, remains jailed with a $581 bond for unpaid child support.

65 year-old woman arrested for assaulting daughter

An Elmwood Township woman was arrested for Domestic Violence Monday after her 47 year-old daughter told Leelanau deputies that her mother pushed, slapped and choked her.  Police were called to the home at 3:19 pm in response to a physical confrontation between the mother and daughter.

The suspect said that she was arguing with her 63 year-old husband when her daughter walked into the residence.  She told her daughter to leave and a physical situation resulted.  Neither party was injured or required medical attention.

The arrested woman remains jailed until an appearance before the magistrate.

Cowboy boots stolen from Leland store Saturday

A $150 pair of cowboy boots was reported stolen from a Leland shop Saturday night.  Leelanau County deputies are investigating the theft and ask that anyone with information regarding the person responsible contact the Confidential Tipline at 231-256-8696 or Tips@co.leelanau.mi.us.