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When a person accused of a crime can’t afford to hire their own lawyer, the court is constitutionally required to hire one for them so they can have a fair fi

jriddle@thealpenanews.com News Photo by Julie Riddle Donald Grooms, one of at least 11 people arrested on drug charges in Alpena County in January, appears in the 26th Circuit Court on Monday. ALPENA — Two jail inmates will have to wait to tie the knot after a request for a jailhouse wedding was turned down in Alpena’s 26th Circuit Court on Monday. Nikolas Niezgoda, an inmate of the Alpena County Jail since Jan. 5, requested through attorney Ron Bayot that he be allowed to marry female inmate Aaron Bissonette. Niezgoda and Bissonette were arrested together Jan. 5 when Alpena Police Depart...

Jeremiah Leeford McLean ALPENA — Jeremiah McLean, accused of raping a 15-year-old girl and keeping her captive in a makeshift shack in the woods near an Alpena cemetery in June, isn’t ready to settle for the 13 years in prison a guilty plea would probably net him, an attorney for McLean said in Alpena’s 26th Circuit Court on Tuesday. Judge Ed Black said that, if McLean agrees to a guilty plea, he’d likely sentence McLean to 13 years behind bars — based on a report provided by the Michigan Department of Corrections — despite a plea from defense attorney Ron Bayot to consider 10 yea...

jriddle@thealpenanews.com News Photo by Julie Riddle Police officers and court personnel prepare for the second half of a trial for John Gaddy in Alpena’s 26th Circuit Court today. ALPENA — The trial for Saginaw man John Gaddy ended abruptly today when a key witness for the prosecution didn’t show up for court. Gaddy is accused of threatening an Alpena woman with a gun following a car chase allegedly sparked by a bag of salt sold to two local women who thought they were buying methamphetamine. After one witness described the chase and said Gaddy had a weapon, several police officers tes...

ALPENA — Circuit Court Judge Ed Black on Monday refused to release Jeremiah McLean from jail. McLean, 23, is accused of kidnapping and raping a 15-year old girl in a makeshift cabin behind the Evergreen Cemetery in Alpena. He also faces other charges related to the alleged incident. He faces up to life in prison. McLean’s attorney, Ron Bayot, cited the state’s “180 day rule,” as one reason his client should be released. The Constitution gives defendants the right to a speedy trial, and Michigan’s speedy trial rules allow those in jail for 180 days without going to trial to be re...