News Photo by Steve Schulwitz Brad Srebnik leaves 26th Circuit Court in Alpena on Monday after Judge Ed Black sentenced him to two years in prison on weapons charges to which Srebnik pleaded guilty after being charged in an alleged armed hijacking last year. Srebnik has also been called a suspect in the deaths of Brynn Bills and Abby Hill.

ALPENA — Judge Ed Black handed down two-year prison sentences to two men who admitted to possessing firearms in the commission of a felony after originally facing charges related to an alleged armed hijacking last year.

Brad Srebnik, 35, and Joshua Wirgau, 34, pleaded guilty as part of a deal with Alpena County Prosecutor Cynthia Muszynski in which Muszynski dropped unlawful imprisonment charges stemming from the September hijacking of a tow truck driver. The men did not admit to the hijacking.

Separate from the hijacking case, law enforcement officials have connected Wirgau and Srebnik to the deaths of Brynn Bills and Abby Hill, two women found dead in two different places in Alpena Township last year.

Muszynski has called Srebnik a suspect in the two girls’ deaths, and police have called Wirgau a person of interest in Bills’ death after police found Bills’ remains in Wirgau’s back yard.

Thus far, no one has been charged in the deaths, and Muszynski said Monday the investigation is ongoing.

On Sept. 21, according to court testimony, Wirgau called a coworker at the towing company where he worked and asked the tow truck driver to come to Wirgau’s Naylor Road home to give Wirgau a ride.

When the driver got there, the alleged victim testified, Wirgau got into the passenger seat of the tow truck while Hill and Srebnik hopped onto the bed of the truck. Wirgau had a handgun, while Hill and Srebnik each had an assault-style rifle, the man testified.

Wirgau allegedly pointed the handgun at the driver for a few seconds, demanded the driver take them to the intersection of Lacomb and Haken roads, and then laid the gun on his lap.

All three of the armed suspects exited the truck when it reached its destination. Wirgau then handed the driver a baggie that the driver said contained cocaine. Then Srebnik handed the driver a $100 bill through the passenger-side window and told him to tell a female acquaintance he loved her, and demanded the driver leave, according to the testimony.

Police arrested Wirgau on Sept. 27 and Srebnik three days after that.

Srebnik received credit for 200 days served, which will shorten his stay in prison. He also must pay associated court fees and fines.

Wirgau was credited for 203 days served and also must pay fines and costs.