Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By RALPH ANSAMI
Hurley — A 29-year-old Hurley woman entered no contest pleas Monday in Iron County Court to delivery of heroin and maintaining a drug trafficking place.
Carol Walitshek, of 505 Maple St., was found guilty of those two counts by Iron County Judge Patrick Madden, who ordered a pre-sentence investigation be completed within 60 days.
Charges of harboring or aiding a felon and misdemeanors for bail jumping, possessing drug paraphernalia and disorderly conduct were dismissed through a plea agreement between Walitshek’s attorney, Sam Filippo, and Iron County District Attorney Marty Lipske.
Walitshek, who was bound over for trial on Feb. 8, completed a plea questionnaire in the courtroom Monday afternoon prior to the pleas.
Her husband, Jesse Walitshek, 30, of the same address, has also been charged with maintaining a drug house and possession of narcotics in connection with an investigation, among other charges.
Jesse Walitshek was bound over for trial on Feb. 12. He is scheduled for a jury trial on May 24, represented by Joseph Hoffmann, according to court records.
According to the criminal complaint, police were serving a drug-related warrant on Donald Kirby at 505 Maple St. on Jan. 31. He was hiding in the attic and refused to come down and when officers searched for him, they found drugs and paraphernalia in the house.
Kirby had a syringe loaded within heroin on his possession and after being read his constitutional rights, he said Carol Walitshek had used a Jeep Cherokee to pick up and transport narcotics at 505 Maple St. that day.
Kirby also said during the three days he stayed at the house, he observed “a lot of people” dropping off and picking up drugs, according to the criminal complaint.
Neighbors reported to police seeing what they were thought might be drug deals at the residence.
In a related case Monday, Matthew Maslanka, 37, of Saxon, appeared in Iron County Court for an adjourned initial appearance on charges of maintaining a drug trafficking place at 505 Maple St., possession of narcotics and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Maslanka’s attorney, Michael Rielly, agreed to waive the requirement for a speedy preliminary hearing and a March 31, 10 a.m. court date is planned.
Maslanka is being held in the Iron County Jail at Hurley on a $5,000 cash bond.
Carol Walitshek’s cash bond is $5,000.
Jesse Walitshek has a $10,000 cash bond.
