06-15-2011, 11:32 PM
ADRIAN, Mich. —
John Skelton entered not-guilty pleas by written waiver rather than appear in Lenawee County Circuit Court Wednesday for arraignment on kidnapping and unlawful imprisonment charges.
Judge Margaret M.S. Noe scheduled the Morenci man for a four-day jury trial to begin Aug. 16. He is accused of causing the Thanksgiving Day disappearance of his three sons, Andrew, 9, Alexander, 7, and Tanner, 5.
Skelton was in court Tuesday for a brief trial that settled a divorce action started by his wife, Tanya Skelton, in September last year. Noe granted sole legal custody of their three sons to Tanya Skelton. Joint custody was requested by John Skelton after he claimed the boys will not be returned so long as their mother has legal custody.
“It’s not in my control,” he said Tuesday.
He also denied being responsible for the boys’ disappearance.
“As far as the children are concerned, I didn’t take the kids,” John Skelton said in testifying for his joint custody request.
“The people who have our children,” John Skelton said before being interrupted by Noe. She said she would not allow him to discuss that claim during the divorce trial.
John Skelton testified at a hearing in December that he turned the boys over to a representative of an
“organization” who came to his Morenci home on Thanksgiving Day. He has repeatedly stated at court appearances he is unable to have them returned.
Morenci Police Chief Larry Weeks announced Jan. 31 that his department’s investigation has been refocused as a homicide rather than a missing persons case.
A criminal prosecution began Dec. 14 when John Skelton was extradited from Ohio and arraigned on parental kidnapping charges that carry a maximum one-year prison term. Lenawee County Prosecutor Jonathan Poer filed new kidnapping and unlawful imprisonment charges on Feb. 17 that carry maximum life and 15-year prison terms.
Rather than proceed toward trial in circuit court, John Skelton requested the case be returned to the starting point in district court. He eventually waived a preliminary examination on June 1 and was bound over again to circuit court for arraignment Wednesday.
John Skelton remains in jail in lieu of $90 million in bonds.
http://www.lenconnect.com/skelton/x83228...nt-charges
John Skelton entered not-guilty pleas by written waiver rather than appear in Lenawee County Circuit Court Wednesday for arraignment on kidnapping and unlawful imprisonment charges.
Judge Margaret M.S. Noe scheduled the Morenci man for a four-day jury trial to begin Aug. 16. He is accused of causing the Thanksgiving Day disappearance of his three sons, Andrew, 9, Alexander, 7, and Tanner, 5.
Skelton was in court Tuesday for a brief trial that settled a divorce action started by his wife, Tanya Skelton, in September last year. Noe granted sole legal custody of their three sons to Tanya Skelton. Joint custody was requested by John Skelton after he claimed the boys will not be returned so long as their mother has legal custody.
“It’s not in my control,” he said Tuesday.
He also denied being responsible for the boys’ disappearance.
“As far as the children are concerned, I didn’t take the kids,” John Skelton said in testifying for his joint custody request.
“The people who have our children,” John Skelton said before being interrupted by Noe. She said she would not allow him to discuss that claim during the divorce trial.
John Skelton testified at a hearing in December that he turned the boys over to a representative of an
“organization” who came to his Morenci home on Thanksgiving Day. He has repeatedly stated at court appearances he is unable to have them returned.
Morenci Police Chief Larry Weeks announced Jan. 31 that his department’s investigation has been refocused as a homicide rather than a missing persons case.
A criminal prosecution began Dec. 14 when John Skelton was extradited from Ohio and arraigned on parental kidnapping charges that carry a maximum one-year prison term. Lenawee County Prosecutor Jonathan Poer filed new kidnapping and unlawful imprisonment charges on Feb. 17 that carry maximum life and 15-year prison terms.
Rather than proceed toward trial in circuit court, John Skelton requested the case be returned to the starting point in district court. He eventually waived a preliminary examination on June 1 and was bound over again to circuit court for arraignment Wednesday.
John Skelton remains in jail in lieu of $90 million in bonds.
http://www.lenconnect.com/skelton/x83228...nt-charges
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