http://www.mlive.com/news/bctimes/index.ssf?/base/news-7/115505012773560.xml&coll=4
Losco undersheriff loses job, but may be able to avoid
conviction
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
By ERIC ENGLISH
TIMES WRITER
TAWAS CITY - Tapping office telephones cost Iosco County Undersheriff
Michael C. Bridson his job, although it appears he won't be convicted of
any criminal wrongdoing.
Bridson appeared Monday in 23rd Circuit Court for sentencing on two
counts of felony eavesdropping, based on charges that he secretly
recorded and listened to employee phone calls at the Iosco County
Sheriff's Department.
Circuit Judge Ronald Bergeron accepted a plea bargain that calls for
delaying sentencing in the case for 12 months. In exchange, Bridson must
step down from his job as second in command at the sheriff's department.
If Bridson complies with a number of conditions set in his plea
agreement, he could ultimately have the case dismissed without a
conviction on his record.
Bergeron said Bridson also is entitled to collect about eight months of
compensation for accrued unused sick time and vacation time before his
resignation is made official.
Bridson, 45, had no comment following the sentencing hearing. His
attorney, Ronald Tyler of East Tawas, told the court that his client
planned to move from the area, possibly to Florida.
Under terms of his plea agreement, Bridson is not allowed to carry a
firearm in any job for the next year. Alcona County Prosecutor Thomas
Weichel, who handled the case as a visiting prosecutor, said that means
Bridson cannot work as a police officer during that time.
Bridson also was ordered not to threaten any Sheriff's Department
employees and to stay out of the Sheriff's Department building in Tawas
City.
Several current and former Sheriff's Department employees are suing
Bridson and the department based on the eavesdropping. Those cases are
pending in both Iosco Circuit Court and U.S. District Court in Bay City.
Bridson was ordered Monday to pay $960 in probation supervision fees,
$680 in court costs and to perform 40 hours of community service if
required by the Michigan Department of Corrections. He also must not
consume alcohol and submit to alcohol testing.
Eavesdropping is a felony punishable by up to two years in jail and a
$2,000 fine, plus court costs.
- Eric English covers regional news for The Times. He can be reached at
1-800-727-7661 or by e-mail at eeng..._at_bc-times.com.
We Hunt Spies, We Stop Espionage, We Kill
Bugs, and We Plug Leaks.
James M. Atkinson, President and Sr. Engineer
Granite Island Group
127 Eastern Avenue #291
Gloucester, MA 01930-8008
Phone: (978) 546-3803
Fax: (978) 546-9467
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Received on Sat Mar 02 2024 - 00:57:21 CST