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Brandon Gerth with his attorney, Kevin Kozma. Oceana County Sheriff’s Deputy Dave Gregwer is in the background.
Holton man pleads guilty to stalking.
#OceanaCountyCourtNews
By Allison Scarbrough. Editor.
HART — A 31-year-old Holton man pleaded guilty to aggravated stalking Monday, July 17, in 27th Circuit Court.
Brandon Taylor Gerth, of 7442 Skeels Rd., was arrested last March by the Michigan State Police for two felony counts of aggravated stalking and has been lodged in the Oceana County Jail on a $50,000/cash/surety bond since his arrest.
In exchange for Gerth’s guilty plea to one count, the second count was dismissed in a plea agreement.
Gerth testified that he repeatedly stalked the victim last March in Greenwood Township. “We had recently separated,” Gerth told Judge Robert D. Springstead. “I was really having a tough time with it.”
“She obtained a personal protection order against you,” the judge said.
Gerth completed a 14-day inpatient stay at a treatment facility during his incarceration, said Oceana County Prosecutor Joseph Bizon.
Aggravated stalking carries a five-year maximum prison sentence, said Springstead. Gerth will be sentenced to a minimum of five years probation in addition to the jail time he has already served.
Gerth plans to enter a rehabilitation facility upon his release from jail, said his attorney Kevin Kozma, who asked Springstead that his client be released on a personal bond.
“I am confident if he is released he will not have any contact directly or indirectly with her,” Kozma said.
Springstead reduced Gerth’s bond to $25,000/cash/surety/10 percent.
Sentencing is set for Sept. 11 at 9:30 a.m.
This story is copyrighted © 2017, all rights reserved by Media Group 31, LLC, PO Box 21, Scottville, MI 49454. No portion of this story or images may be reproduced in any way, including print or broadcast, without expressed written consent.
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