Sentencing guidelines discussed for man up on multiple B & E charges
An Onaway man accused of breaking into businesses in a three county area of northeast lower Michigan, including several in Rogers City last September, had his hearing adjourned Monday in 26th Circuit Court as the attorneys iron out their differences involving the scoring under Michigan?s sentencing guidelines. Abraham Helsel, 25, faces nine charges in Presque Isle County, as well as other counts in Cheboygan and Montmorency Counties.
Helsel allegedly was involved in the beak-ins of Karsten?s Restaurant, Jason?s Gaslight Lounge, Kortman?s Restaurant, BJ?s Classic Auto, and the BP gas station on Third Street in Rogers City. He asked for a Cobbs hearing so he could learn what his sentence would be.
POLICE BELIEVE he was involved in the break-in of Brady?s Country Store on M-68 in Cheboygan County. Taken from Brady?s was an ATM machine, which is considered a safe breaking offense and tacks on a considerable amount of jail time. The crimes in the two counties went unsolved until Helsel and an accomplice were caught inside the Mobile gas station in the village of Atlanta in October. The B&E ring operated in the summer and fall of 2002 with their primary focus on commercial businesses, especially gas stations and party stores.
HELSEL?S ATTORNEY, Rick Steiger of the Public Defender?s office, disagreed with the sentencing guideline scoring in the pre-sentencing report, which recommended Judge John Kowalski lock up Helsel for 67 to 120 months.
The report was prepared by probation officer Jude Bluemle, from the Michigan Department of Corrections. Based on Helsel?s history in the court system, Steiger believed the sentence should be 19 to 38 months.