Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Man gets probation in fraud case

Judge agrees that Mental Health Court is the right place for defendant


By TERRY SMITH
Express Staff Writer

    A 36-year-old former Blaine County man was placed on probation for three years Monday for illegally trying to use another man’s credit card.
    In a case investigated by Ketchum police, Michael A. Rodman was originally charged in September with two felony counts of fraud by criminal possession of a financial transaction card. In exchange for a guilty plea in April, one of the counts was dismissed.
    At Monday’s sentencing hearing in Blaine County 5th District Court, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Matt Fredback said probation was the right sentence for Rodman, who has no serious prior criminal history but suffers from “mental health issues” that can be aggravated by alcohol or drugs.
    Fredback said Rodman was currently enrolled in Mental Health Court in Twin Falls and living in a halfway house, “and that’s the best place for him.”
    Judge Robert Elgee also gave Rodman a six-year suspended prison sentence and agreed that jail was not necessary.
    “I think you’re in the right place, too,” the judge said. “Mental Health Court is tailored for this.”




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