No field day on OHS field trip of local justice system

by Peter Jakey, Managing Editor

Onaway High School students from Kelly Moran?s sociology class sat in on a typical Circuit Court motion day conducted by Judge Scott Pavlich.

The courtroom can be life-changing place in more ways than one, the students learned. Pavlich sat on the stand with Presque Isle County prosecutor Rick Steiger at his right. To his left, defense attorneys took their turns in front of him to have their clients stand to answer to the charges with arraignments, pleas and sentencings.

On Monday, the students watched a couple of individuals receive prison sentences, a sex offender who molested his grandchild and stepdaughter re-sentenced to a longer term that will probably keep him behind bars the rest of his life; a repeat drunk driver; and another defendant who admitted to being strung out on crack cocaine when he broke into a Rogers City business. The subject brazenly smashed the front entrance door with his truck to enter.

Unfortunately, it was a typical monthly motion day in Rogers City. In fact, there were probably a lot fewer drug offenses than usual. That?s not typical.

?WE WANT to educate to make them and have them understand that there are certain choices in life,? said teacher Kelly Moran, who brings a class to court annually. ?When they make poor choices, there are certain consequences.?

The students also took a tour of the jail. ?When they make good choices there is a lot more freedom,? said Moran.

?I don?t want to ever come here,? said Allie Nave, one of several students reacting to their experience. ?It doesn?t seem like a real pleasant place.?

?It was scary, very scary,? Emily Estep said of the court proceedings. ?I wouldn?t want to go in there.?

Ryan Tucker said, ?I learned to not get involved in alcohol and drugs and you have a lot better chance of not ending up here.?

JUDGE PAVLICH delivered that message. Once the motion day concluded he talked

with them for a few moments and said 80 percent of the cases that come before him have an alcohol or drug component.

?It’s either people stealing because they are on drugs, or doing things because they are drunk,? said Pavlich. ?I mean, adults have been telling you stay away from drugs and alcohol forever. You get tired of hearing it. It’s true.

?So, if I could say anything to you to get you to stay away from drugs and alcohol I would. It may make you not so popular, it may make you dull, in the long run you are going to be so far ahead, your chances of success will be a lot higher.?

Moran will have follow-up questions and discussion to get the students? thoughts.

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