COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – A Harrison, Michigan man was arraigned in Branch County District Court on Saturday on charges related to the passing of a bad check for over $14,000 while stealing a car in July of 2022.
62-year-old Brian Martin was booked at the Branch County Jail on Saturday after he had been sought by authorities since September of 2022. Martin is facing a charge of uttering and publishing as well as a count of false pretenses between $1,000 and $20,000 after an investigation by the Michigan State Police.
Prosecutors have also filed a fourth time habitual offender sentencing enhancer against Martin due to previous convictions dating back to 1982 in Macomb, Wayne and Oakland Counties.
According to Branch County court documents, the alleged victim sold a 1975 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am to Martin and his girl friend Angela Frances Plovie in Kinderhook Township for $14,500.
Courtesy Michigan State Police
But the seller was unable to cash the check because the bank said the account did not exist and the check was not valid.
Martin’s former girl friend told the Michigan State Police the same thing happened to her and her vehicle in Niles with a bad check written for $9,000.
The stolen vehicle from Kinderhook Township had a historical Michigan registration plate on the back of it.
Not guilty pleas were entered on Martin’s behalf during Saturday’s arraignment and a cash or surety bond of $250,000 was set.
A probable cause hearing was scheduled for March 6 with a preliminary exam on March 12.
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