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December 22, 2005Deputy avoids jail sentence in co-worker's deathPatrol car rolled over en route to accident sceneGAYLORD - Andrew Nobliski avoided a jail sentence this year for the death of a fellow Otsego County sheriff's deputy after he accepted a plea bargain for reckless driving.Nobliski survived a rollover car wreck on Sept. 12, 2004, that killed deputy John Gunsell, 43. Nobliski recklessly drove the patrol car as the deputies responded to the scene of an accident that occurred more than two hours earlier. State police said vehicle speed, road conditions and Gunsell's failure to wear a seat belt were factors in the fatal wreck. Nobliski was arrested months later and charged with negligent homicide. He resigned from his deputy job in April as part of a plea bargain with special prosecutor Charles H. Koop of Antrim County. Nobliski pleaded no contest to reckless driving and was ordered to pay more than $6,000 in restitution for unpaid funeral expenses. District Judge Patricia A. Morse accepted the plea agreement and sentenced Nobliski to 100 hours of community service, one year of probation and court fees. "It was an unfortunate accident," said Otsego County Sheriff Jim McBride. He declined to comment on Nobliski's punishment. Nobliski has another full-time job in Gaylord, but not in law enforcement. He declined to be interviewed. Kelly Gunsell, Gunsell's ex-wife and now sole parent of their four children, said this year was tough for her family. "It would be the same with any family that's grieving. We had birthdays and holidays, and the boys missed him, especially at hunting season," Kelly Gunsell said. She added there are different opinions among family members about Nobliski's sentence. "In the end, it didn't really matter what happened to Andrew. It wasn't going to bring John back," Kelly Gunsell said. No changes were made in Otsego County as to how deputies are trained for driving, which is an annual update school after initial police academy lessons, McBride said. However, he impressed the use of seat belts among his deputies this year, as he always does, he said. Koop said Gunsell's death was the result of a "culture of speed" among police officers. He noted that Nobliski had a history of reckless driving and Gunsell habitually failed to wear a seat belt. Neither wore a seat belt when the accident happened. McBride said neither Nobliski nor Gunsell followed police standards the night of the fatal wreck.
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