Florence dismisses charges against Bal
By NIKKI YOUNK, Staff WriterFLORENCE, Wis. - Criminal charges against former Iron Mountain police officer Phillip Bal have been temporarily dismissed while officials await an appeal pending in Michigan, said Florence District Attorney Douglas Drexler.
Bal, 35, was originally charged in Florence County with second degree sexual assault-use of force for an alleged April 2005 incident involving an Iron Mountain woman at the C & R bar in Aurora, Wis.
He is currently serving an 11- to 20-year prison sentence after being convicted of first degree criminal sexual conduct and home invasion in Dickinson County Circuit Court in May 2007.
Drexler explained that Bal is appealing the conviction in Dickinson County and the decision will influence whether or not Drexler reinstates the charges in Florence County.
"If the appeal is granted, we will pursue charges in Wisconsin," Drexler stated. "If not, he's already spending time in prison and we don't want that additional cost to the taxpayers."
Since Bal's trial in Florence was scheduled for Sept. 4, Drexler said that he had to take some kind of action while waiting for the appeal decision. He chose to dismiss the charges without prejudice, meaning that the charges can be reinstated at a later date.
Nikki Younk's e-mail address is nyounk@ironmountaindailynews.com.
|
Drmboteannie
|
|
|---|---|
|
08-29-08 12:20 PM
|
I think, despite the cost to taxpayers, despite the fact that he is currently incarcerated in prison, that charges should remain. If he is tried and found Guilty, then you can run his sentence consecutive to his current one.
|
|
GrumpyOldMan
|
|
|
08-29-08 11:58 AM
|
To Crandy-- The C&R "changes" after 9:00pm...esp. on Fri/Sat nights. Yes, during the day it's a nice little supperclub with its hamburgers and dinners and fish...and on Sundays they bring in the oldtime country bands so the geriatrics can two step...but on the weekends at night, it's a blood&guts meet market...
|
|
crandy
|
|
|
08-29-08 8:13 AM
|
Interesting.... I always thought the C&R Bar was a Supper Club that also was a dance hall. I've been there for business luncheons and a Veterinarian has an informational dinner there.... I've even seen elderly people there.... Calling it a Meat Market???? Really not what I thought when I went there..... Unless I was ordering a nice BIG Burger..... one of the items they are Famous for......
|
|
BlueBlooded
|
|
|
08-29-08 1:02 AM
|
...and I suppose that women who are raped are asking for it... Men and women have to be held responsible for their actions. Women (or men) who go to a particular place do so for a variety of reasons. Anyone who assumes that they are asking to be "picked up" or "hit on" needs to work on acquiring a few more functioning brain cells.
|
|
trollray
|
|
|
08-28-08 4:24 PM
|
"cough" innocent any female who hangs out or goes to the cnr ask to be hit on or "picked up" , thats why its called the "meat market"
|