ROGERS CITY — A defendant who has been in jail almost 500 days without a trial will remain there until jury trials resume in Michigan — unless he can come up with $300,000.

A motion by the defense to reduce the bond of Michael Rigot, held in the Presque Isle County Jail since January 2019 on multiple sexual assault charges against two minors, was denied by Judge Aaron Gauther in the 53rd Circuit Court.

Defense attorney Devin Pommerenke lobbied for a reduction in Rigot’s bond that would allow the defendant to get out from behind bars after 18 months of incarceration while presumed innocent.

Detailing the five previous trial dates for Rigot — one ending in a mistrial because jurors didn’t show up for jury duty, one delayed by coronavirus-related court closures, and three caused by changes requested by the defense — Gauthier said that, despite the court’s efforts to push for a trial for Rigot, more than five months of his incarceration have been caused by the defendant’s own decisions.

Denying a reduction in bond, Gauthier assured both parties Rigot’s trial will be first in line in Presque Isle County once jury trials are able to resume.

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A man who said he can’t get a good job because of a criminal record wanted a judge to set aside his 2013 stalking conviction but was told no in Alpena County court on Monday.

Admitting, as part of a plea deal, to stalking a minor child, Randall Floyd, currently of Antrim County, was sentenced to 90 days in jail and 18 months’ probation. Now, he said through defense attorney David Funk, he can’t get good employment because of the conviction.

Alpena County Prosecutor Cynthia Muszynski said that, while she sympathizes with Floyd’s difficulties, the mark on his record serves as “an educational piece for those who intend to hire him.”

26th Circuit Judge Benjamin Bolser told Floyd — originally charged with criminal sexual conduct against a minor and accosting a child for immoral purposes — that the stalking conviction will not be removed from his record.