Bobolts children testify in preliminary examination
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ALPENA -- Frederick Bobolts, 61, had the beginning of his preliminary examination in the 88th District Court on Wednesday with testimonies from his three minor children.
Bobolts is charged with multiple counts of domestic violence and assault. He is also charged with Animals-Killing/Torturing and multiple second-degree and third-degree child abuse charges, as well as two aggravated stalking charges.
He was arraigned on Aug. 3 in the 88th District Court in Alpena and had a personal protection order violation hearing in the 26th Circuit Court in Alpena on Aug. 10.
Bobolts had his most recent hearing on Aug. 11 in the 88th District Court. Judge Alan Curtis raised his bond to $75,000 at that hearing and placed him under arrest.
The children testified about the alleged second and third degree child abuse as well as the alleged animals-killing/torturing charge.
The News does not name alleged victims of child abuse.
The first child that testified said that his father, Bobolts, would yell a lot and swear. He recalled an incident where the defendant hit him on the head with a ring.
The second child that testified recalled an incident where Bobolts grabbed her neck while she was playing a game on a computer. She also said that the defendant would yell a lot.
The third child that testified recalled Bobolts grabbing the back of her neck in at least one incident and in another incident she testified that he poked her cheek with his finger causing her cheek to bleed. She said that Bobolts was almost always mad.
The first and third children both testified about an incident where Bobolts allegedly hit the family's pet dog with an acoustic guitar. Both said they were not there when the incident happened but that they saw the broken guitar and that Bobolts said he had hit the dog with it.
Defense Attorney Joel Bauer questioned the third child on whether Bobolts's statement about hitting the dog with the guitar might have been dark humor. Since the child did not see the incident, Bauer asked whether it is possible Bobolts may have stepped on the guitar.
The child said she thought Bobolts was not joking about hitting the dog and that he hated the dog.
Bauer also asked the first child about whether he knew when Bobolts was joking or being serious.
Bauer asked the second child whether her dad had ever put out his hand protectively to block her from going out into the street, for instance, and she said no.
The preliminary examination will be continued at a later date which is yet to be scheduled.
Reagan Voetberg can be reached at 989-358-5683 or rvoetberg@thealpenanews.com.