Restitution of $40,000 was ordered when two men were sentenced last week in 13th Circuit Court.
An Alanson man was ordered to spend eight months in jail and pay restitution of $22,031 after pleading guilty to charges resulting from the theft of property and tools taken in September 2022.
According to the criminal complaint, the Sheriff’s Office received a call from a Suttons Bay Township man, stating that his Keystone Razorback Toyhauler had been taken from property. The trailer also contained tools valued at $4,350. The victim stated that the tools were being sold on Facebook Marketplace and the purchaser identified Cole T. Greenier as the seller.
In November 2022, Greenier was interviewed and stated he traded the tools from a person named John for a dirt bike. According to Secretary of State records, the investigator found that Greenier had not registered the dirt bike.
In April 2023, the trailer was found in the woods on property adjacent to Greenier’s property in Alanson in Emmet County. The Razorback was valued at $32,000 prior to being stripped and damaged. Greenier’s Facebook records show that he had pictures of various tools, which the property owner confi rmed were his.
In a related case, dating back to September 2022, deputies were dispatched to a site in Leland Township on a report of a utility trailer that had been burned. A broken lock was found near the trailer. The trailer had an estimated value of between $10,000 and $12,000 and tools taken from the were valued at $15,459.
Seven of the tools were posted on Greenier’s Facebook account.
Greenier faced a seven-count complaint which included larceny of $20,000 or more; receiving and concealing stolen property of $20,000 or more; breaking and entering a vehicle to steal property of more than $1,000 but less than $20,000; larceny greater than $1,000 but less than $20,000; fourth degree arson; and two counts of tampering with evidence.
Greenier pleaded guilty to attempted breaking and a vehicle and larceny of more than $1,000 and less than $20,000.
He was sentenced to eight months in jail with credit for 22 days served and was ordered to pay restitution of $22,031 and other fees totaling $23,697.
According to Chief Assistant Prosecutor Tristan Chamberlain, the victims in this case approved the plea agreement.
“In the past, when there’s a large restitution amount, the defendant would pay $50 a month and it would take a 100 years to pay it off,” he said. “In this case, the defendant was able to come up with a large amount up front and will pay monthly when he gets out of jail.”
After completing his jail sentence, Greenier will be on probation for 24 months.
In another case, a Thompsonville man was sentenced after pleading guilty to charges resulting from an investigation which dates back to August 2023.
Zackery T. Gentz of Thompsonville pleaded guilty to breaking and entering a building with intent and embezzlement of $20,000 or more.
According to the criminal complaint, deputies were dispatched to Apache Trout Grill in August to speak with the regional manager about a check written by Gentz, to himself, for $16,400. Gentz, a manager, had access to the check book. After further investigation, it was found that Gentz had written and deposited eight checks totaling $21,300 into his personal account.
He was charged with breaking and entering (B&E) with intent; larceny over $1,000 and less than $20,000 ; and embezzlement by a trustee or agent greater than $20,000.
Gentz pleaded guilty to the B&E and the embezzlement charge. On the B&E, he was sentenced to 10 months in jail with credit for 127 days served and was assessed fines/costs and restitution of $2,255. On embezzlement charge, he was sentenced to 10 months in jail with credit for 96 days served and ordered to pay restitution of $21,650, plus pay $130 to the state crime victim’s fund and another $68 to the State of Michigan.
He will be on probation for 36 months after his release.
