Dispute over alleged romantic affair turns violent

Joseph Pulsipher appears in Oceana County’s 51st Circuit Court with his attorney Karri Russell.

Dispute over alleged romantic affair turns violent

Fight involved a knife, baseball bat, car ramming, death threats.

By Allison Scarbrough

HART — A 57-year-old Hesperia man who faces a felony of assault with intent to murder following a violent encounter with another man over a woman appeared in Oceana County’s 51st Circuit Court Monday, Oct. 9, for a pretrial hearing. 

Joseph Owen Pulsipher, of 9430 E. Filmore Rd., remains lodged in the Oceana County Jail on a $250,000 bond.

“The suspect was making allegations of an affair,” previously said Oceana County Sheriff Craig Mast.

The assault of the 64-year-old Hesperia man occurred, April 1, in the 6500 block of East M 20 in Newfield Township. 

“Deputies were dispatched to the residence, and the resident there said that a second gentleman pulled into the driveway and began an altercation that turned into a felonious assault with death threats,” said Sheriff Mast. 

“The suspect donned a knife. The victim defended himself by striking him several times during the altercation. After the physical altercation, the suspect got up from the ground; got into his van; and rammed the victim’s pickup truck. He rammed several times, and the victim had to jump out of the way to avoid being struck by the suspect’s vehicle on multiple occasions. The victim said he then proceeded to grab a baseball bat to defend himself. He did use the bat to break out the window of the van as the suspect was attempting to run him over.”

Both Pulsipher’s and the victim’s vehicles were damaged, and both men received medical treatment, said the sheriff. 

Pulsipher was treated at Trinity Health Shelby Hospital before being lodged in jail. The victim began complaining of chest pains and was evaluated by EMS at the scene and then transported for further treatment. 

“His current guidelines would calculate at 10 years, six months to 17 years, six months for his minimum range,” said Oceana County Prosecutor Joseph Bizon after the court hearing. “The maximum is life, which means the judge would set a maximum term of years to complete the indeterminate sentence. We have not made any offer in this case but rather identified the sentence range as the matter stands.”

Pulsipher’s prior criminal record includes marijuana possession convictions, said the prosecutor. “It is important to note that all persons accused are presumed innocent unless they are found guilty in court,” said Bizon.

Pulsipher’s attorney Karri Russell requested an adjournment of the pretrial hearing so a criminal responsibility evaluation can be conducted. Judge Susan K. Sniegowski allowed the hearing to be adjourned to Nov. 13 at 11 a.m.

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