Noe business partner charged with seven felonies
Michigan
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Maumee man released on bond after not-guilty pleas to 7 felonies
Noe partner appears in court
THE BLADE/ALLAN DETRICH Timothy LaPointe, center, is escorted by Lucas County Courthouse security officers Roger Kenner and Pam Spicocchi.
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A Maumee man who was Tom Noe's partner in a rare-coin business in Monclova Township was arraigned yesterday in Lucas County Common Pleas Court on seven felony charges.
Timothy LaPointe, 59, of Springfield Township entered not-guilty pleas to one count of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity and six counts of tampering with records.
Mr. LaPointe was a partner in Mr. Noe's Vintage Coins and Collectibles in Maumee.
Mr. Noe, 51, a longtime Republican fund-raiser and high-level state appointee, is accused of stealing millions from the $50 million rare-coin investment he managed for the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation.
Mr. LaPointe, who faces up to 38 years in prison, is accused of conspiring with Mr. Noe to hide the theft of more than $1 million by preparing false inventories for the coin funds from 2002 to 2004.
He was released on monitored recognizance bond by Judge Charles Doneghy, who scheduled a pretrial hearing in the case for April 24.
After entering pleas of not guilty on each count through attorney Catherine Killam, Mr. LaPointe was taken from the courtroom in handcuffs by courthouse security officers.
He was released after being processed and fingerprinted by clerk of court employees.
In contrast, Mr. Noe was not taken from the courtroom in handcuffs after his arraignment last week, when he pleaded not guilty to a 53-count indictment. He was released from the county jail after posting a $500,000 bond.
In yesterday's hearing, John Weglian, chief of the special units division of the Lucas County Prosecutor's Office, made the request for the monitored recognizance bond. He also asked that travel restrictions be lifted to allow Mr. LaPointe to travel freely out of the state.
Judge Doneghy approved both of the prosecutor's recommendations, meaning that Mr. LaPointe will only have to make weekly telephone calls to court staff.
In response to questions about his request for a recognizance bond, Mr. Weglian said later he doesn't believe that Mr. LaPointe poses a flight risk and the request was appropriate.
"He has not given any indications that he intends to flee in regards to these charges," Mr. Weglian said.
At Mr. Noe's arraignment, prosecutors argued that the high bond was appropriate for the number and nature of the charges. Lucas County Common Pleas Court Judge Thomas Osowik denied a request from Mr. Noe's attorney for a lower amount.
Mr. Noe faces up to 172 years in prison if convicted of all 53 counts, with the most serious offense - engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity - carrying a mandatory 10-year prison sentence.
Mr. LaPointe was indicted on a lesser offense that carries a 2-to-8-year prison sentence. However, a presumption for incarceration exists for someone convicted of crime under state sentencing laws.
Noe partner appears in court
THE BLADE/ALLAN DETRICH Timothy LaPointe, center, is escorted by Lucas County Courthouse security officers Roger Kenner and Pam Spicocchi.
Zoom | Photo Reprints
A Maumee man who was Tom Noe's partner in a rare-coin business in Monclova Township was arraigned yesterday in Lucas County Common Pleas Court on seven felony charges.
Timothy LaPointe, 59, of Springfield Township entered not-guilty pleas to one count of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity and six counts of tampering with records.
Mr. LaPointe was a partner in Mr. Noe's Vintage Coins and Collectibles in Maumee.
Mr. Noe, 51, a longtime Republican fund-raiser and high-level state appointee, is accused of stealing millions from the $50 million rare-coin investment he managed for the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation.
Mr. LaPointe, who faces up to 38 years in prison, is accused of conspiring with Mr. Noe to hide the theft of more than $1 million by preparing false inventories for the coin funds from 2002 to 2004.
He was released on monitored recognizance bond by Judge Charles Doneghy, who scheduled a pretrial hearing in the case for April 24.
After entering pleas of not guilty on each count through attorney Catherine Killam, Mr. LaPointe was taken from the courtroom in handcuffs by courthouse security officers.
He was released after being processed and fingerprinted by clerk of court employees.
In contrast, Mr. Noe was not taken from the courtroom in handcuffs after his arraignment last week, when he pleaded not guilty to a 53-count indictment. He was released from the county jail after posting a $500,000 bond.
In yesterday's hearing, John Weglian, chief of the special units division of the Lucas County Prosecutor's Office, made the request for the monitored recognizance bond. He also asked that travel restrictions be lifted to allow Mr. LaPointe to travel freely out of the state.
Judge Doneghy approved both of the prosecutor's recommendations, meaning that Mr. LaPointe will only have to make weekly telephone calls to court staff.
In response to questions about his request for a recognizance bond, Mr. Weglian said later he doesn't believe that Mr. LaPointe poses a flight risk and the request was appropriate.
"He has not given any indications that he intends to flee in regards to these charges," Mr. Weglian said.
At Mr. Noe's arraignment, prosecutors argued that the high bond was appropriate for the number and nature of the charges. Lucas County Common Pleas Court Judge Thomas Osowik denied a request from Mr. Noe's attorney for a lower amount.
Mr. Noe faces up to 172 years in prison if convicted of all 53 counts, with the most serious offense - engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity - carrying a mandatory 10-year prison sentence.
Mr. LaPointe was indicted on a lesser offense that carries a 2-to-8-year prison sentence. However, a presumption for incarceration exists for someone convicted of crime under state sentencing laws.
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