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Robert Wilson, at right, with his attorney, Timothy Hayes.
Case is slated for trial April 26-28.
#OceanaCountyNews #CourtNews
By Allison Scarbrough. Editor.
HART — The felony embezzlement case against fired Shelby Police Chief Robert Wilson, 62, is scheduled for trial at the end of this month, but there is a plea offer by the prosecution on the table.
Wilson appeared in 27th Circuit Court for a pretrial hearing Monday, April 10, with his defense attorney, Timothy Hayes.
Wilson faces six felony charges, one of which is punishable by up to 15 years in prison, due to allegedly performing fraudulent vehicle inspections.
Wilson faces one count of embezzlement $50,000-$100,000, which is a 15-year felony, and five counts of motor vehicle code – false certification, each of which are punishable by up to five years in prison.
Michigan State Assistant Attorney General Oronde Patterson, who is handling the prosecution, has offered a plea agreement in which Wilson would plead to an added count of embezzlement $20,000-$50,000, which is a 10-year felony, and one count of motor vehicle code – false certification. All of the other counts would be dismissed. The plea deal includes Wilson paying $70,000 in restitution.
Wilson was fired by the Shelby Village Council with a 5-1 vote last January following an internal investigation that revealed he had allegedly been doing salvage vehicle inspections without notifying the village and without paying the village the money from the inspections.
Patterson has filed a motion in limine, which he said is a motion that asks the court to make a pretrial ruling regarding what evidence would be admissible during the trial. Patterson said the motion would make the trial run more smoothly. The trial is set for April 26-28.
Judge Robert Springstead is slated to rule on the motion during a hearing April 24 at 3 p.m.
Wilson is free on a $10,000/10 percent bond.
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