Repeat offender gets 10-20 years for facilitating sale of marijuana

by Peter Jakey– Managing Editor

Multiple drug convictions will keep a former Metz Township man behind bars well into his 60s. Alfred Astle, 57, already had served time in the Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) for manufacturing marijuana, violated his parole when he was found to be at the center of a new drug selling operation in Presque Isle County.

According to prosecutor Rick Steiger, Astle facilitated the sale of 100 pounds of marijuana from June to September 2007. The offense will keep him in prison for 10 years or more. ?As far as I am aware, it is the most marijuana that this county has ever seen run through one individual,? said Steiger. Astle still had time to serve when the parole board let him back into society, so that sentence will have to be resolved by the MDOC before Astle can start serving the new prison time. The terms will run consecutive. Astle appeared in court Monday chained from his wrists to his ankles and under close watch by two officers from the MDOC.

THE PROSECUTOR and defense attorney George Tschirhart agreed to a 10-year cap last month in return for guilty pleas on charges of criminal enterprises/conducting; conspiracy to deliver five to 45 kilograms; and bribery of a public officer. ?We asked that the recommendation be followed,? Tschirhart told Circuit Judge Scott L. Pavlich during Monday?s sentencing hearing. ?My client wanted me to raise (the issue that) he should be entitled to time served since his detainment. Other than that, the bottom line recommendation is in line with our plea agreement. We ask that you follow that.?

Astle?s only comment was to echo Tschirhart?s remarks about receiving credit for

time served. Steiger disagreed. ?Mr. Astle has an extensive criminal record,? said the prosecutor. ?He has eight felony convictions and nine misdemeanors. For all intensive purposes, he has been a lifelong criminal abuser. ?THE LAW is clear, when an individual is a MDOC inmate, and they are on parole and commit a new offense, they are put on a detainer. All that time, using layman terms, is ?dead time.? It goes toward their detainer conviction.? Pavlich said he reviewed the presenting report prepared by probation officer Jude Bluemle. The judge called Astle?s situation ?a shame? and a ?waste of our resources.?

Steiger said, ?For a marijuana offense, for an individual to receive 10 to 20 years, it has to be fairly horrific, and I believe this is. This is an individual who in a very short period of time, while on parole, brought in a huge amount of marijuana through this county. I believe justice was served.? Investigators were not sure who received the marijuana, or where it came from.

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