EDITOR:

On October 14, 2021, officers from Escanaba Department of Public Safety received a report of some fraudulent checks that were cashed by a Gladstone man at a local credit union. When confronted by law enforcement, the individual admitted he knew the checks he was depositing and cashing were not real. This individual already is a three-time convicted felon at the time of his arrest.

He was sentenced to 12 months in jail and 12 months probation following the entry of a plea to Uttering and Publishing.

What is uttering and publishing in Michigan?

“A person who utters and publishes as true a false, forged, altered, or counterfeit record, instrument, or other writing listed in section 248 knowing it to be false, altered, forged, or counterfeit with intent to injure or defraud is guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than 14 years.”

This individual is arrested and charged with his fourth felony and can plea it down to 12 months. Why was he not charged as a habitual offender? Why such a lenient sentence? Then to make it worse, he was released from jail. He only served 149 days of the 12-month sentence. He served 92 days from the original arrest date and 57 days after being sentenced. I received text message that he was released with the reason being — sentence served. Wait. What? The last I checked 12 months was 365 days.

He is now back on the streets to take advantage of even more people. This is just so wrong. This is not keeping Delta County safe.

Donna Allsworth

Gladstone