6-YEAR MAX? Judge Gauthier Explains "Stacked" Sentences to Absconding Defendant.

Added: 2026-05-19

[00:00:03]Good morning. Can you tell me your name?

[00:00:06]>> Purley Price.

[00:00:08]>> Oh, okay.

[00:00:13]Hold that. Mr. Nightale.

[00:00:22]I did not know she was in the Department of Corrections or had forgotten if I ever did know.

[00:00:29]She was uh sentenced very swiftly on her other count case.

[00:00:32]>> Oh. So this is file 25-7120FH.

[00:00:37]Council, you want to state your appearances, please?

[00:00:40]>> Prosecutors.

[00:00:41]>> No. And I got Miss Price who appears uh in custody of the Department of Corrections.

[00:00:48]>> Okay.

[00:00:50]I've got some pending uh bond violation issues um that I think I'm just going to go ahead and dismiss. She's sitting on a Department of Correction sentence out of another county. It doesn't make any sense to deal with bond issues here.

[00:01:05]Um, Miss Price, I have a plea agreement in front of me for count one uh delivery of of the methamphetamine with the dismissal of the drug double enhancement and the remaining counts and the habitual. Uh, is that how you wish to proceed today?

[00:01:32]>> Yes, your honor.

[00:01:37]All right. Would you raise your right hand for me, please? You swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth help.

[00:01:44]>> I do.

[00:01:45]>> You can put your hand down.

[00:01:47]Miss Price, uh, guilty ple hearing is an important event. It includes the waiver of constitutional rights that you have. So, listen carefully. If you have a question, ask me. If you need to talk to your lawyer, you just say so anytime.

[00:02:00]The charge of delivery of methamphetamine is a felony. punishable by a maximum of 20 years in prison and or a $25,000 fine. Do you understand that?

[00:02:08]>> I do.

[00:02:10]>> Okay. Is there any circumstances council's aware of where this would be uh consecutive to the other case or No, >> not to my knowledge.

[00:02:16]>> Okay.

[00:02:17]>> All right. And you're going to later file an amended moving to drug double?

[00:02:20]>> Yes.

[00:02:21]>> Okay. You get sent to the filing of that. Okay.

[00:02:24]All right. Uh Miss Price, um did you read and understand the rights listed on the advice of rights form?

[00:02:31]Yes, I did.

[00:02:33]>> Do you have any questions for me or your lawyer about any of those rights?

[00:02:36]>> I do not.

[00:02:38]>> Did you give your lawyer permission to sign that form on your behalf?

[00:02:41]>> Yes.

[00:02:42]>> Do you understand if you enter a plea, you won't have a trial and you give up those rights?

[00:02:47]>> Yes.

[00:02:48]>> And is that what you want to do today?

[00:02:50]>> Yes.

[00:02:53]>> Um, >> I accept your plea. you give up any claim that it was caused by threats or by promises that aren't put on the record today. Do you understand that?

[00:03:06]>> Yes, your honor.

[00:03:09]>> Also, when you enter a guilty plea, the uh any appeal, you have to get permission to appeal by an application, which they don't have to grant. And if they did grant it, the types of issues that you could raise on an appeal after you plead, are very limited, much more limited than if you went to trial and were convicted. Do you understand that?

[00:03:28]>> Yes, your honor.

[00:03:31]Other than the plea agree, well, do you understand the terms of the plea agreement that I outlined for you?

[00:03:36]>> Yes, your honor.

[00:03:37]>> Other than that plea agreement, has anybody promised you anything to get you to plead guilty?

[00:03:42]>> No.

[00:03:43]>> Has anybody threatened you to make you?

[00:03:45]>> No.

[00:03:46]>> Is it your own free choice to that plea?

[00:03:49]>> Yes, it is.

[00:03:50]>> Knowing all that, how do you wish to plead the charge of delivery of methampetamine?

[00:03:55]>> Guilty.

[00:03:57]So, Miss Price, back on July 8th of 2025, were you in Shoen County?

[00:04:02]>> Yes.

[00:04:03]>> And did you deliver the controlled substance methamphetamine to another person?

[00:04:08]>> Yes.

[00:04:09]>> Did you later find out that person was uh cooperating and form it with law enforcement?

[00:04:14]>> Yes, I did.

[00:04:16]>> And um did you know that the substance that you were delivering to that person was methamphetamine?

[00:04:22]>> I did.

[00:04:24]>> Yeah. And you're not a pharmacist or doctor, right? You don't have any authority to uh dispense that substance, do you?

[00:04:30]>> No.

[00:04:32]>> And did that delivery occur in Choing County?

[00:04:36]>> Yes.

[00:04:37]>> Mr. Nightingale, you satisfied the fact bases?

[00:04:39]>> I miss.

[00:04:40]>> Yes.

[00:04:41]>> Mr. Nightingale, you aware of any other crimes judgement dispense?

[00:04:44]>> No.

[00:04:44]>> Miss Gri, Mr. Night, your judgment of I complied with 6.302?

[00:04:47]>> The court has.

[00:04:48]>> Miss Gri, >> yes. Miss Price, I find that your plea is knowingly, understandingly, and voluntarily made and that there is a sufficient basis in fact in law to believe you're guilty of that offense.

[00:04:56]So, I hereby accept your plea.

[00:04:59]>> Do you know what uh what sentence she's sitting on?

[00:05:02]>> Uh I think it's somewhere neighbor 70 months or something like that. Miss Price >> 51.

[00:05:10]>> 51. Yes.

[00:05:11]>> 50. Okay.

[00:05:14]Okay. Um, I guess would you What county was that out of?

[00:05:21]>> So, we probably just need to do a short little updated report. Um, would it be fine to set that for June 9th?

[00:05:29]>> You'd be able.

[00:05:31]>> I just We're already got getting so many sentencings on the 7th. I don't want to overload you.

[00:05:35]>> Understood. And she's sitting on No, >> I have the amended removing the drug double. You consent to that? Yes, sir.

[00:05:45]>> All right. Let's set this for sentencing then on June 9th at 10:30 in the morning.

[00:05:51]Now, Miss Price, um you have the right to be physically present in court in the courtroom for your felony sentencing. And if you want to do that, that's no problem. We can uh do a writ and get you up here.

[00:06:10]Sometimes people who are already in the Department of Corrections for reasons personal to themselves want to just stay put where they're at and we can sentence you as we are doing the hearing here today. Uh that's your choice. Um do you know what your preference is about that?

[00:06:26]>> Um I'm okay with doing it over Zoom.

[00:06:29]>> Okay. Now understand I'm not asking you to do it over Zoom and you saying I'm just okay with it. I'm just asking you want to come up. There's no problem at all. I promise you. But if you would prefer to do it by video for your own convenience, we can do that.

[00:06:44]>> I'd prefer to do it by video.

[00:06:46]>> Okay. Any objection to that, Miss Goodrich? Mr. Night?

[00:06:49]>> No.

[00:06:50]>> Okay. Well, you'll prepare a video written with the department.

[00:06:52]>> Yes.

[00:06:53]>> All right. So, we'll schedule your sentencing for June 9th at 10:30 in the morning by video from MDOC.

[00:07:00]Um, >> the 180 days expires on October 7th.

[00:07:05]So, we're well in advance of that. And I'll dismiss the pending contempts.

[00:07:15]>> And uh Miss Price, someone from the Department of Corrections may be speaking with you to uh just write an updated report. So, you have to cooperate with them about that. Any further from the defense? From the people? No. Thank you.

[00:07:27]>> Okay, you're all set, Miss Price. You have a good day.

[00:07:30]>> Thank you, your honor.

[00:07:36]Good morning. Are you Braden Freeman?

[00:07:39]>> Yes, sir.

[00:07:40]>> All right. Uh this is uh people be Braden Freeman. We've got two cases up. One is a continued sentencing that was adjourned uh filed 21-6099 and one is an arraignment and anconding charge in 26-7139 FH. We've got Mr. Freeman appearing from the Grand Traverse County Jail where he's lodged on another case. His attorney, Mr. Nightingale, is in the courtroom as is the prosecuting attorney, Miss Goodrich.

[00:08:12]And um for purposes of arraignment, Mr. Nightingale, do you and your client wave the reading of the information?

[00:08:19]>> We do.

[00:08:21]>> And is a forensic center referral requested?

[00:08:23]>> No.

[00:08:28]>> All right, Mr. Freeman, I have in front of me a plea agreement in that new file.

[00:08:34]You're charged with absconding bond habitual seconds.

[00:08:38]The plea agreement uh in advice of rights uh is for pleading guilty to the absconding with a dismissal of the habitual second notice. Is that how you wish to go forward today, sir?

[00:08:51]>> Yes, sir.

[00:08:53]>> Would you raise your right hand for me, please?

[00:08:56]You swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

[00:08:58]yourself to God.

[00:09:00]>> Yes, >> put your hand down.

[00:09:04]>> Mr. Freeman, a guilty plea hearing is an important event that includes the waiver of constitutional rights you have. So, I want you to listen carefully. If you have a question, ask me. If you need to talk to your attorney, you just say so.

[00:09:15]Econing or forfeiting a felony bond is a felony punishable by up to four years in prison and or a $5,000 fine. It's also uh discretionary consecutive sentencing meaning uh let's see the case you have pending in front of me is a possession of bupinorphan which carries a two-year maximum. So I would be legally allowed to but not required to stack the four-year absconding on top of that two-year possession. So that your maximum exposure in this case would be six years. Do you understand that?

[00:09:46]>> Yes, sir.

[00:09:49]>> All right. And did you read and understand the rights listed on the advice of rights form?

[00:09:54]>> Yes, sir.

[00:09:55]>> You have any questions for me or your lawyer about any of those rights?

[00:09:58]>> No, sir.

[00:10:00]>> Did you give your lawyer permission to sign that form on your behalf?

[00:10:03]>> I did, sir.

[00:10:04]>> Do you understand if you enter a plea, you won't have a trial, you'll be giving up all the rights listed on that form?

[00:10:10]>> Yes, sir.

[00:10:12]>> And is that what you wish to do today?

[00:10:14]>> Yes, sir.

[00:10:18]>> All right. Um the uh plea agreement I've explained to you is the dismissal of the habitual second. Other than that, has anybody promised you anything?

[00:10:30]>> No, sir.

[00:10:31]>> Has anybody threatened you?

[00:10:33]>> No, sir.

[00:10:34]>> Is it your own free choice to enter that plea?

[00:10:36]>> Yes, sir.

[00:10:37]>> You understand if you if I accept the plea today, you give up any claim that it was caused by threats or or uh promises that aren't put on the record?

[00:10:45]>> Yes, sir. And also when you enter a guilty plea, you lose the right to appeal. If you want to appeal, you have to seek permission by filing an application. But the types of issues you could raise on that appeal would be very limited. Do you understand that?

[00:10:58]>> Yes, sir.

[00:11:00]>> All right. How do you wish to plead then to the charge of absconding or forfeiting a bond?

[00:11:04]>> I guilty.

[00:11:06]>> So back on December 19th, 2025, were you on bond to this court?

[00:11:11]>> Yes. And that was the uh possession of bupinorphan case.

[00:11:16]>> That is correct.

[00:11:17]>> We had it set for sentencing. Is that right?

[00:11:20]>> Yes.

[00:11:21]>> And you failed to appear for the sentencing. Is that correct?

[00:11:24]>> Yes.

[00:11:26]>> And uh then did you did you leave the jurisdiction of the state of Michigan?

[00:11:31]>> I did.

[00:11:33]>> All right. And Mr. Nangel, you satisfied with that factual basis?

[00:11:36]>> I thank you, Mr. Good.

[00:11:37]>> Yes.

[00:11:38]>> Mr. Nangel, you aware of any other promises for inducements? No, you're not.

[00:11:42]>> M good.

[00:11:42]>> No.

[00:11:43]>> All right. Mr. Freeman, I find that your plea is knowingly, understandingly, and voluntarily made, and that there is a sufficient basis in fact and law to believe you're guilty of that offense.

[00:11:51]So, I hereby accept your plea.

[00:11:54]Um, Mr. Nightingale, we also have the uh original charge up for sentencing. Do you want us to continue that to the same date and time so we get the credit then?

[00:12:04]>> Please. Yes, we can consolidate that.

[00:12:07]>> Okay. And Mr. Freeman. Then do you have any objection to that? Mr. Good.

[00:12:10]Objection.

[00:12:12]>> Mr. Freeman, you would have the uh you've got the absolute right to be physically present in in our courtroom here in Shabboan for your felony sentencing on the 2021 bupinorphan case and this absconding. Now, uh sometimes people want to come over and and we'll make those arrangements to get you over here for that. If you would instead prefer to be sentenced by video from Grand Traverse County, uh you can wave that right and we're happy to do that by video if you wish. Do you know what your preference is about that, Mr. Freeman?

[00:12:47]>> Uh I think I'll come over there.

[00:12:49]>> Okay. Okay, that's no problem. So, we'll schedule this then for July 7th at uh let's do 11 a.m.

[00:13:20]Um, in the 6099, um, we have a pending contempt for failing to appear. And now there's an absconding conviction. I'll just go ahead and dismiss that, uh, pending contempt.

[00:13:36]Really would serve no purpose.

[00:13:40]And so, let's see. July 7, 11 a.m.

[00:13:47]And Miss Goodrich, will your office submit a RIP?

[00:13:51]>> Yes.

[00:13:53]>> And uh Mr. Freeman, you have to cooperate with a pre-sentence interview process. So, someone from the Department of Corrections will be speaking to you so that they can prepare an updated presentence report. I know we have the one on the possession case, but they'll need to do an updated one on uh just on the new one and what you've been up to since then. Anything further from the defense?

[00:14:18]>> Okay, we'll see you July 7th at 11 in the morning here in the courtroom, Mr. Freeman. You have a good day.

[00:14:22]>> All right. Thank you. You too.