Charges against Savage dropped in firework case
Tweet
Wasielewski
Savage
MSU freshman Sasha Savage will not face charges for her alleged involvement in a November 2009 prank, but remains suspended from MSU, according to her lawyer.
A representative from the Ingham County Prosecutor’s Office said her court case has been dismissed. Court records show Judge Joyce Draganchuk dismissed the case
last week.
Savage, a communicative sciences and disorders freshman, faced felony charges carrying sentences of up to 20 years in prison for her alleged involvement in a firework prank on Nov. 1, 2009. Three other MSU students — premedical freshman Olivia Hudson, economics freshman Darby Dudley and pre-law freshman Nikolai Wasielewski — faced similar charges.
The charges stem from a prank where the four freshmen allegedly threw a firework into the yard of another MSU student on Grove Street. Hudson and Dudley pleaded guilty to reduced misdemeanor charges and were sentenced to probation on March 3. Wasielewski, who has maintained his innocence, will face trial.
Savage’s lawyer George Zulakis said the prosecutor’s office dropped the charges because his client was innocent.
“First of all, her involvement in the incident was less than any of the others in the vehicle, significantly less,” Zulakis said. “And second, she cooperated with the police and the prosecutor’s office.”
He said although Savage is relieved, she still is facing the repercussions of the case. He said MSU officials initially suspended Savage for two years from the university. Her suspension was reduced to one semester and she is appealing to be reinstated immediately. Zulakis said it’s ironic that Savage’s case was dropped and she still faces suspension, whereas her co-defendant Hudson received only a month suspension and has been reinstated despite pleading guilty.
MSU can not publicly discuss a student’s suspension.
Wasielewski’s lawyer, Mike Nichols, said his client will go to trial to fight the felony charges he faces, which hold a maximum penalty of 15 years.
Nichols said at Wasielewski’s Feb. 25 pretrial, the prosecuting attorneys were upset with Wasielewski because he refused to cooperate with the prosecutor’s office. Nichols said the prosecutor’s office wanted Wasielewski to plead guilty to his involvement, but said his client is innocent.
A representative from the prosecutor’s office said the trial was scheduled to continue. Ingham County Prosecutor Stuart Dunnings III was unavailable for comment Monday. Nichols said he is unsure when Wasielewski will go to court for his trial.
“It’s kind of just hanging over his head,” Nichols said.
Commentary
Add your $0.02, go to the comment form or follow the comment feed
Lyle
(03/16/10 12:29am)Report
“Nichols said at Wasielewski’s Feb. 25 pretrial, the prosecuting attorneys were upset with Wasielewski because he refused to cooperate with the prosecutor’s office. Nichols said the prosecutor’s office wanted Wasielewski to plead guilty to his involvement, but said his client is innocent.”
#########################
So it sounds like Wasielewski is getting railroaded because he refused to cooperate and admit guilt, so the Prosecutor’s office is out to punish him for that. Has nothing to do with the great threat he posed to society, has everything to do with ticking off the Prosecutor.
The Citizens of EL should be proud.
Jessica
(03/16/10 8:15am)Report
I applaud Wasielewski for maintaining his innocence…how deplorable that allowing the state to run roughshod over you is the only way to resolve a mess of someone else’s making. Does the Ingham County Prosecutors Office really have nothing better to do than torment four essentially children for a harmless prank?
Sparty
(03/16/10 9:29am)Report
Lyle pretty much summed it up.
Pathetic waste of tax dollars.
John
(03/16/10 1:22pm)Report
It’s pretty expensive to fight for your innocence, and THEY know it. Apparently this Wasielewski has some money. Imagine what would have happened if he didn’t. IF, he would have been treated like Savage, then it would have made WAY more sense to charge these two with a MUCH lower offense, and find some balance between both ends of the absurdity scale (“it was no big deal” vs. “they committed an act of terrorism”).
Basically, these two appear to be primarily guilty of following the terminally stupid. The consequences for that should not be thousands of dollars in legal fees and possible jail time.
Bill
(03/16/10 2:37pm)Report
Am I the only one that thinks Sasha Savage and Darby Dudley sound like a crimefighting team?
the postman
(03/16/10 3:35pm)Report
right on wasielewski. This is another instance of the city at war with the students. Everybody knows this trail is a joke and that they are railroading Waseliewski. I have a feeling that his case will also be thrown out, especially considering that one of the four was already found inocent, and the other two got misdemeanors. EL wanted to make some bank, and they messed with the wrong kid.
Bob The Builder
(03/16/10 6:05pm)Report
The prosecuting attorney should be disbarred and everyone involved in this case should face professional censure. They are merely grandstanding to try to prove to the world that ELPD/DPPS do more than deal with MIP and POM casses to ensure they keep getting the grossly excessive funding they desire.
bro
(03/16/10 6:36pm)Report
SAVAGE LIFE
hey hey
(03/16/10 6:58pm)Report
Not sure if this has been brought up yet, but “Sasha Savage” sounds like a pornstar name. Glad she’s off the hook though.
Yahooooo!
(03/16/10 9:40pm)Report
Alright!!
MaximumBob
(03/18/10 1:54pm)Report
Jessica,
I agree about the “harmless prank” portion, but the “essentially children” is disturbing. You’re probably right, but the thought that somebody of college age can be considered a “child” is disturbing.
Time to grow up, kids.