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April 29, 2005Deal for ex-deputy won't be revealedSentencing is set for May 25ByRecord-Eagle staff writer GAYLORD - Details of a plea bargain for former Otsego County sheriff's deputy Andrew Nobliski won't be made public for at least a month. Nobliski was arrested and arraigned last week on a charge of negligent homicide - a high court misdemeanor - and released on a $2,000 personal recognizance bond. The charge stems from the Sept. 12 death of deputy John Gunsell in a fatal rollover of a patrol car. Nobliski was driving as the deputies responded to an accident that occurred more than two hours earlier. State police reports cited vehicle speed, road conditions and Gunsell's failure to wear a seat belt as factors in the fatal crash. Nobliski's plea and sentencing hearing is scheduled for May 25 in 87th District Court in Gaylord. Court records do not yet list the plea agreement. Antrim County prosecutor Charles Koop, the special prosecutor in the case, would not confirm a plea bargain was offered. He also wouldn't comment on details of the case until the court accepts Nobliski's plea. The pending plea bargain will be presented to the court during the hearing, said Kevin Hesselink, Nobliski's attorney. Negligent homicide is punishable by up to two years in prison, which makes it a felony charge, even though it's called a high court misdemeanor. Whether the plea bargain includes a misdemeanor or felony charge will determine whether Nobliski is eligible to work as a police officer elsewhere in the state. In Michigan, officers convicted of felonies, including plea bargains, cannot work in law enforcement. Nobliski resigned from the Otsego County sheriff's department last week. Sheriff Jim McBride declined comment on whether Nobliski should be able to continue working as a police officer. "Basically, he's a good officer, but he made a mistake," McBride said, adding it's unlikely he would rehire Nobliski, even if he avoids a felony conviction. See Related Stories: Deputy faces negligent homicide charge - April 23, 2005 Deputy may accept plea instead of trial - April 20, 2005 Otsego deputy may face charges in crash - April 5, 2005 Charges against Otsego deputy weighed - November 24, 2004 Crash that killed deputy still being investigated - September 14, 2004
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