News

Brady Twp. supervisor charged

Friday, August 8, 2008 11:07 PM EDT

SAGINAW - Brady Township Supervisor Ron Gasper was arraigned on two misdemeanor charges Friday in Saginaw County after he allegedly illegally burned a rental home on his property in 2006.

A Saginaw County District Court clerk said Gasper didn't have an attorney with him when he pleaded not guilty to a solid waste violation and air pollution control charges before 70th District Court Judge M.T. Thompson.

“The judge said, ‘Plead not guilty and get out of here,'” Gasper said. “I just want this to go away.”

Gasper and two other members of the Brady Township government were under fire and faced recalls in 2007. He was not, however, Gasper challenged the validity of the signatures on the recall petition. The petition fell one signature short.

Gasper alleged in the past the charges were all politically motivated after he voted to fire former Police Chief Larry Briggs and dissolve the Oakley-Brady Police Department.

Briggs originally investigated the illegal burn and also served as chief of the Perry Police Department. He was fired from both positions when he was charged and a jury later found him guilty of stalking an Owosso woman almost a year ago.

Gasper said police did not arrest him and the judge didn't set bond.

“He didn't even want to talk to us,” Gasper said of the judge. “He laughed at us like we had more important things to do and he didn't want to monkey around with us.”

A detective at the Michigan State Police Bridgeport post previously said the attorney general's office is handling the case. The Saginaw County Prosecutor's office wouldn't handle the case because of Gasper's position, the MSP said.

According to WJRT-TV ABC 12, Chesaning-Brady Fire Chief Dan Ryan also faces misdemeanor charges of willful neglect of duty because he didn't help put out the fire. A contractor also faces charges in the case.

Ryan did not immediately return phone calls made by The Argus-Press seeking comment.

Comment on this Story

dont bend the laws wrote on Aug 11, 2008 4:34 PM:

" I think Larry Briggs did his job correctly with this case. The law is the law and even if you own the property anyone with brains knows you must get the proper permits NO MATTER WHAT YOUR POLITICAL POWERS ARE! "

Ronnie wrote on Aug 11, 2008 12:13 AM:

" GEE must have been something to the charges since the charges are still there and the POLITICAL MOTIVATION is gone !!!! What you meant to say is that Charlie Brown, your buddy, is gone and now you might be on your own!!! "