Planet Marcia

continued

The prosecution’s motion for a stiffer sentence also cited emails Ottoman sent in July 2006 to two paramilitary groups, the Michigan Militia and the Ohio Militia, asking them to get rid of her in-laws’ tenants by force. And it referred to another civil case in which developer Rene Papo swore that Ottoman forged his signature this June.

Prosecutors also mentioned Ottoman’s use of “her title and status as an elected Township Trustee” to file false accusations against the farm tenants with the local police in 2005 and 2006. Ottoman stepped down from her trustee post after the federal conviction this spring.

Under sentencing guidelines, Ottoman would get ten to sixteen months in jail. Before her guilty plea, a court-ordered psychological examination concluded that she was competent to stand trial and not insane at the time of her offense. As the Community Observer went to press in August, however, a second examination was pending at her attorney’s request, and her sentencing had been delayed till November. At this point, being declared crazy may be Ottoman’s best hope of escaping the troubles she’s brought on herself.   

[Originally published in October, 2008.]