Defendant Takes Stand in Gogebic Child Abuse Case
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Call (906) 932-4449 Ironwood, MI Packers preseason Points fly as Green Bay takes on Redsautosales.com Steelers in preseason football SPORTS • 9 DAILY GLOBE Friday, August 17, 2018 Sunny yourdailyglobe.com | High: 79 | Low: 54 | Details, page 2 Defendant takes stand in Gogebic child abuse case By RICHARD JENKINS LaPlant admitted to owning a [email protected] dog kennel, but said he owned BESSEMER — Matthew James two dogs — a pitbull and a St. LaPlant, 37, of Bessemer, took the Bernard-mix. He later testified he stand Thursday to defend himself did use a screwdriver to lock the during his child abuse trial in kennel, but said that was to keep Gogebic County Circuit Court. the dogs inside, rather than the LaPlant is charged with one child. He also testified he only count of first-degree child abuse, recognized one of the two screw- two counts of second-degree drivers admitted into evidence child abuse and one count of during the trial, saying he didn’t unlawful imprisonment. All four recognize a yellow-handled counts are felonies, with first- screwdriver the child testified degree child abuse carrying a was used to lock him inside the potential maximum sentence of kennel. up to life in prison. Asked to describe his interac- The prosecution has alleged tions with the child, LaPlant said LaPlant physically abused his ex- they played with cards and girlfriend’s then 7-year-old son Legos, as well as occasionally while they were living together, went fishing. as well as locking him in a dog LaPlant also rejected previous kennel, calling him names and testimony the child didn’t like making him put soiled under- being around LaPlant. “I thought wear in his mouth as punish- he acted fine with me. He never ment. acted like he was scared of me or LaPlant denied abusing the frightened of me,” LaPlant said. Richard Jenkins/Daily Globe child, testifying any abuse the Prior to moving from Park MATTHEW LAPLANT, right, listens to an attorney in Gogebic County Circuit Court Thursday during child suffered was at the hands of Falls, Wis., to South Barber Street his trial on child abuse charges, while Judge Michael Pope presides. his mother. in Bessemer’s Yale Location in “No, I never hit (the alleged December 2016, LaPlant said the victim),” LaPlant said. He did say alleged victim’s mother yelled at family friends were living with minimal clothing in winter, LaPlant said he didn’t believe he may have yelled at the kid the boy and he saw her hit the them, “Until she got used to another method of discipline. in corporal punishment for chil- from time to time. He also denied child once. (them), or got warmed up to “When she put him out there, dren, later testifying he brought ever hitting or threatening the “She started treating him them.” he was out there probably for up his concerns about the way boy’s mother. worse (after moving to Besse- Once this happened, LaPlant approximately ... 10 minutes. I she was raising the child with the Later in his testimony, LaPlant mer),” LaPlant testified. “More said the mother began yelling at was the one who brought him mother. also denied making him put the yelling, more grounding, more of the child more and spanked him back into the house,” he said, “After I talked to her, (the soiled underwear in his mouth — the spankings.” in front of them. “because it was cold out there.” calling such an act, “totally He said she also was nicer to LaPlant said the mother made He also said she called the the child stand in the porch with child a variety of names. wrong.” the boy while two of LaPlant’s ABUSE — page 5 Wisconsin Casperson says he storm gets federal didn’t know of decision emergency to close Ojibway By JEAN NORDINE gan DOC’s announcement declaration [email protected] that the Ojibway Correc- By RICHARD JENKINS MARENISCO — State tional Facility will close [email protected] Sen. Tom Casperson said Dec. 1. he was not informed ahead MADISON, Wis. — The six Chris Gautz, a of time by the Michigan northwestern Wisconsin spokesperson for the DOC, Department of Corrections counties impacted by the mid- had said he wouldn’t know of its decision to close the June rain storms and flooding which prison was to be Ojibway Correctional will also receive federal assis- closed until mid-Septem- Facility in Marenisco tance in their recovery effort, ber. before the DOC’s public after President Donald Trump Casperson, R-Escanaba, announcement Tuesday issued a federal disaster dec- said there were other cost morning. laration for the region Satur- saving options available to Jean Nordine/Daily Globe Ojibway was on a short day. the state, but when he pre- THE EIGHTH annual Danny B Suicide Awareness Jack and Jill softball tour- list of possible closings “Communities in north- sented the DOC with a sav- nament is set for Aug. 26-27 at Gotta’s Field in Gile, where a new conces- and while the public was western Wisconsin have been ings plan, he thought it sion/announcer stand is being built. Neil Gilbertson, owner of the field, has waiting to hear the DOC’s working hard since the June “fell on deaf ears.” been using donations from the Danny B tournament to make Gotta’s “one decision many, including flooding to repair the damage Casperson believes of the best ballfields around,” according to tournament director Bryan Casperson, thought the to roads and bridges,” Gov. because the last three Sokolowski. decision would be made in Scott Walker said, when prison closures were September. He was part of announcing the declaration. Danny B Suicide Awareness Jack and downstate, it was a group lobbying against “This federal disaster declara- inevitable the next one the closure. tion will help with the unex- Jill softball tourney returns at Gile would be in the U.P. Meanwhile, hundreds pected costs incurred by the A group of local leaders of people gathered Thurs- devastating floods and severe By JEAN NORDINE nament after Baross and it was sug- day at the Marenisco Town storms, and it will help us [email protected] gested proceeds from the tourney be Hall to protest the Michi- move forward with the recov- GILE, Wis. — The eighth annual donated to the RSPC. CLOSURE — page 5 ery process.” Danny B Suicide Awareness Jack and Some of the money from the tour- Walker requested the fed- Jill Softball tournament is slated for nament has been given to Gotta’s eral declaration for Ashland, Aug. 25-26 at Gotta’s field in Gile. Field to help keep it in shape. Neil Bayfield, Iron, Burnett, Clark The tournament originated as a Gilbertson, owner of the field, has and Douglas counties July 20. tribute to the memory of Danny been using the donations to make Hurley still seeking officer A damage assessment the Baross, who lost his battle with Gotta’s, according to Sokolowski, HURLEY — The Hurley On the committee’s rec- Federal Emergency Manage- depression and committed suicide in “one of the best ballfields around.” In City Council on Wednes- ommendation, the council ment Agency conducted in 2009. the works are new lights, a new con- day learned Police Chief granted a Combination the region in July showed This year the tournament commit- cession stand and a two-story score Chris Colassaco is still Class B liquor license to R more than $13.1 million in tee expects to top the $20,000 total box. attempting to hire a part- and B of Kimball, Idle damage to public infrastruc- that they have raised for Range Sui- The tournament also donates $500 time officer. Hour Saloon, 25 Silver St., ture, according to Walker’s cide Prevention Council over the past each year to the Polar Bear Hockey A candidate for the job William Salonek agent. announcement. The damage seven years of holding the Danny B. Club of which Baross was very took another position, the Council members again was sustained when what Interested teams can contact tour- involved in coaching and refereeing. council learned in a report discussed the lower block FEMA called, “Severe storms, nament director Bryan Sokolowski at Sokolowski said the initial year of from police, fire and broken bottle situation that straight-line winds, and flood- 906-364-2587 or e-mail the tourney they didn’t know what to license committee chair typically surfaces on Sun- ing” hit the region between [email protected]. expect and thought it would just be a Steve Lombardo. day mornings. Not only is June 15-19. Baross was an avid softball player. one-time thing. But after experiencing “We’re back to square the glass unsightly, but it Iron County sustained a At the time of his death, his long-time the overwhelming support and partic- one on the officer,” Lom- poses a danger to walkers total of $707,000 in damage, friend, Sokolowski, and other former ipation from the community, they bardo said. and their pets. teammates were planning to organize Colassaco had a conflict a softball tournament and they decid- and did not attend the ed it would be fitting to name the tour- meeting. STORM — page 5 SUICIDE — page 5 OFFICER — page 5 TODAY INDEX Sunny — Details, page 2 Classifieds . .12-13 75 cents Comics . .11 Thursday Today’s records Community . .3 Vol. 99, No. 228 High 76 High 93 (1947) Home & Garden . .8 Low 59 Low 37 (1981) Obituaries . .6 Year ago today Precipitation Opinion . .4 High 75 24 hours to 7 a.m. Low 53 Thursday none Sports .