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ALPENA -- Aaron Linke, 43, was arraigned for an alleged violation of conditional release on Monday in the 88th District Court in Alpena. He was also arraigned for five additional charges on Thursday, which include child abuse and maintaining a drug house charges.
Linke is currently charged with a misdemeanor operating while intoxicated (OWI) which he was arraigned for on Aug. 11. An arraignment is the first hearing where the defendant is informed of the charges against them.
He is additionally charged with second degree child abuse, delivery/manufacture of methamphetamine, maintaining a drug house, OWI, and driving while license suspended/revoked/denied.
The counts of child abuse and delivery/manufacture are both felony charges. Second degree child abuse carries a 10 year maximum in prison and delivery/manufacture carries a 20 year maximum. Maintaining a drug house is a high court misdemeanor carrying a maximum prison sentence of two years.
Linke's bond was set for $1,500 for the original OWI charge. His last hearing for that charge was a status conference on Oct. 27 according to court records. Linke is scheduled for another status conference at 2 p.m. on Nov. 30.
Judge Alan Curtis said it is alleged that on or about Nov. 8, the defendant violated a condition of his bond by testing positive for methamphetamine and amphetamine.
Linke was booked in the Alpena County Jail at 9:32 a.m. on Nov. 8.
Defense Attorney Dennis Grenkowicz said that the defendant would deny the bond violation allegations and demand a hearing.
Linke's arraignment for the five new charges took place on Thursday. A search warrant was executed on Sunday at Linke's residence on 8th Ave. in Alpena, which is where the new charges stem from.
Defense Attorney Rick Steiger said that Linke has no prior violent criminal history and he is a lifelong resident of Alpena.
Linke has past charges from 2007 and 2012 of breaking and entering and delivery/manufacture of marijuana.
If released on bond, Linke will have no contact with his 3-year-old child who is the alleged victim of child abuse. He will also undergo drug testing and wear a tether.
The News does not name alleged minor victims of child abuse.
Alpena County Prosecutor Cynthia Musynski said that the child is receiving medical treatment in Saginaw. The child received a drug test and tested positive for amphetamine.
Curtis said that Linke is a danger to the community and handed him a $150,000 cash/surety bond for the five new charges.
On Monday for the alleged bond violation, Judge Curtis set Linke's bond to $2,500 cash/surety pending the bond violation hearing.
Linke is scheduled for a bond modification hearing at 2 p.m. on Nov. 17.
Reagan Voetberg can be reached at 989-358-5683 or rvoetberg@thealpenanews.com.