ALPENA, Mich. — James Walsh, 33, waived his preliminary examination Wednesday in the 88th District Court in Alpena, moving his case toward the next stage in circuit court.
Walsh faces charges of accosting children for immoral purposes, using a computer for internet communication with another person to commit a crime, and resisting and obstructing police. The charges are allegations, and the source material does not report a finding of guilt.
What the investigation alleges
According to the preliminary investigation described by The Alpena News, troopers were notified Aug. 8 that Walsh had been engaging in conversations of a sexual nature with an individual posing as a 13-year-old girl. The conversations allegedly began in May and continued until troopers were notified.
During the investigation, troopers located Walsh in the parking lot of an apartment complex. The report says he resisted after troopers told him he was under arrest. Walsh was ultimately arrested and lodged at the Alpena County Jail.
Next court steps
Walsh was arraigned Aug. 11 and was given a $25,000 cash or surety bond, according to the report. His next hearing will be an arraignment in the 26th Circuit Court in Alpena, although a date had not been determined when the report was published.
Waiving a preliminary examination means the case proceeds without that examination taking place in district court. The supplied report does not provide additional details about the evidence, the alleged victim’s identity or the reason for the waiver.