ALPENA — Frederick Bobolts, 62, was bound over Wednesday from the 88th District Court in Alpena to the 26th Circuit Court on most of the assault, child abuse, stalking and related charges filed against him.

The case involves allegations of domestic violence, abuse of children, violations of an alleged personal protection order, strangulation, assault with a dangerous weapon and abuse of a family dog. The Alpena News does not identify minor victims or victims of alleged domestic violence.

What witnesses told the court

During the first part of the preliminary examination on Sept. 2, Bobolts’ three children testified about the child-abuse allegations. Testimony included an allegation that Bobolts held a gun while sitting on a couch with one child beside him as the children and their mother tried to leave the home.

One child testified that Bobolts struck the child’s head with a ring. Other allegations included poking a child in the cheek, grabbing a child by the neck and grabbing another child’s neck while she was playing a computer game.

Two children testified that Bobolts broke a guitar by striking the family dog with it. Neither child said they saw the strike occur, but both said they later saw the broken guitar. They also testified that Bobolts said he had hit the dog and appeared to find it funny.

At Wednesday’s hearing, Bobolts’ wife testified about the alleged assaults, stalking and child abuse. She said she had been married to Bobolts since 2011 and had met him in 2008. She described an alleged incident involving a gun on the couch and said Bobolts looked at her while holding the weapon and speaking calmly to a child.

She also testified that Bobolts allegedly tried to take her phone while she was attempting to call 911. She said he tackled her while she was trying to keep the phone from him. She described three alleged strangulation incidents, including one after which she vomited and experienced a sore throat, hoarseness, lightheadedness and difficulty speaking or swallowing. One alleged incident was outside the six-year statute of limitations and could not be charged.

The alleged victim also testified that Bobolts took one child with him in a vehicle to buy marijuana and that the child returned with a bump on the head that appeared consistent with being struck by Bobolts’ skull ring. She said she witnessed an incident in which a child’s cheek was poked, causing bleeding and a lasting indentation.

Stalking and investigation testimony

The alleged victim said Bobolts sent her Facebook messages and text messages. After she blocked him on Facebook, she said he used an older page to continue contacting her and tagged her in posts. She also testified that he drove past her home at least twice after a personal protection order had been filed.

The stalking allegations involve two time periods: May 20 through June 11 and June 12 through August 2026, according to testimony reported in court.

Alpena County Sheriff’s Deputy Ryan Minton testified about the children’s interviews at the Child Advocacy Center and the Child Protective Services process. During questioning, Minton said one child appeared to provide more information in a Child Advocacy Center interview than in court. He also testified that a child said in the interview that the mother had not told the child what to say.

Evidence in the case included text messages in which the alleged victim said Bobolts repeatedly threatened to beat or kill the dog. She also testified about a voicemail that frightened the children and caused them to cry because they believed Bobolts might kill the animal.

Charges sent to circuit court

Judge Alan Curtis bound over the majority of the charges to the 26th Circuit Court. One charge was dropped, while two charges alleging the use of computers to commit a crime were added in connection with the stalking allegations.

The charges bound over include:

  • Two stalking charges and two charges of using computers to commit a crime.
  • One second-degree child-abuse charge involving the alleged gun incident and the presence of another child.
  • Third-degree child-abuse charges involving the alleged ring strike, cheek injury and neck grab.
  • A fourth-degree misdemeanor charge related to the alleged neck grab while a child was playing a computer game.
  • Two charges of strangulation or great bodily harm less than murder.
  • One charge of killing or torturing animals.
  • Assault with a dangerous weapon involving the alleged gun incident.
  • Interfering with electronic communications.

Several related charges were dropped or reduced during the bind-over decision. Bobolts also faces three misdemeanor domestic-violence charges, which do not require a preliminary examination and remain pending.

Defense attorney Joel Bauer argued that the prosecution had not established that some conduct was knowing or intentional. He also questioned the lack of photographs or veterinary records documenting the dog’s injuries and argued that medication may have affected Bobolts’ behavior in some alleged assaults.

Bobolts’ next hearing will be an arraignment in the 26th Circuit Court in Alpena. The source article lists reporter Kayla Wikaryasz as reachable at 989-358-5688 or [email protected].