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By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor
LUDINGTON — A 42-year-old Pinconning man who was charged with threatening hotel guests with a handgun in 2024 has been cleared of all charges.
Daniel James Bendtsen initially faced half a dozen charges in connection to the incident. It was alleged that Bendtsen threatened two guests with a handgun at the Comfort Inn on US 10 in Pere Marquette Township.
Bendtsen
A jury found Bendtsen guilty of one count of felonious assault and one count of felony firearm in Mason County’s 51st Circuit Court last April, said his attorney Andrew LaPres. In September, LaPres filed a motion for a directed verdict, and Judge Susan K. Sniegowski overturned Bendsten’s conviction.
“I didn’t think it made sense for him to be convicted of the two charges,” said LaPres. “I didn’t think the prosecutor met the burden with that, so I filed a motion for a directed verdict of not guilty on both charges.
“A written opinion by the judge states the evidence was insufficient for guilt on the element of intent,” said the attorney.
“Of the six charges, the prosecutor dismissed two before trial,” explained LaPres. “The jury found him not guilty of two, and the judge found him not guilty of the final two.”
Mason County Prosecuting Attorney Beth Hand said she intends to appeal the decision with the Court of Appeals. “We have a claim of right to appeal,” said Prosecutor Hand. “We have 42 days from the order of the court to file in the Court of Appeals.”
Bendtsen was out on bond over the course of the last two years and had served two days in jail following his arrest.
“His two-year horror story is over,” said LaPres.
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