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April 20, 2005Deputy may accept plea instead of trialByRecord-Eagle staff writer  Nobliski, 27, survived a Sept. 12 rollover crash that killed deputy John Gunsell, 43. Nobliski was at the wheel as the deputies responded to the scene of an accident that had occurred more than two hours earlier. Nobliski joined the sheriff's department in July 2000 and has been on paid administrative leave since the fatal wreck. State police reports cite vehicle speed, road conditions and Gunsell's failure to wear a seat belt as factors in the crash. Gaylord attorney Kevin Hesselink said he is negotiating a plea agreement with Antrim County Prosecutor Charles Koop, appointed special prosecutor in November by the state attorney general's office. Hesselink would not discuss details of the potential settlement. "We can't speculate at this point until we've reached an agreement," he said. Koop also would not comment, other than to say Gunsell's family will have input on the case under state victim's rights laws. "They have had discussions with me about any disposition of the case," Koop said. Hesselink said he also is negotiating for Nobliski's job with Otsego County Sheriff Jim McBride. Police officers in Michigan cannot continue to serve if convicted of, or accept a plea agreement to any felony charges - policies of the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards. McBride said regardless of a plea outcome, he believes Nobliski should resign because his actions were "reckless and negligent" and led to Gunsell's death. Nobliski's job status will be decided at a disciplinary hearing Friday morning, McBride said.
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