The Clio man arrested last November for holding two women captive in his Arbela Township home will be avoiding trial following a plea deal.
Originally arraigned on one count of assault and battery, three counts of unlawful imprisonment, two counts of assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder by strangulation, interfering with electronic communications, carrying a dangerous weapon with unlawful intent, assault with a dangerous weapon, five counts of possessions of a firearm while committing or attempting to commit a felony, and one count each of domestic violence and assault and battery, the Tuscola Advertiser reported Wednesday that 31-year-old Joseph Blasdell took the deal a day before his March 14th trial, leaving him now waiting for a May 9th sentencing date.
According to the publication, Blasdell pleaded no contest to two counts of assaulting/resisting/obstructing a police officer, assault with a dangerous weapon, carrying a dangerous weapon with unlawful intent and domestic violence, with all other counts being dismissed.
The original charges stem from an incident on November 5, 2022, when Michigan State Police were dispatched to Baker Subdivision in Arbela Township after a third-party caller informed police that there were two female victims being assaulted and held against their will.
The caller also informed troopers that the male suspect, later identified as Blasdell, was armed with a gun and had threatened to kill the two women and anyone who responded to the call for help.
When they arrived, troopers were told that the suspect was believed to be outside and chasing the women, who had fled his house. Approaching the home, troopers were able to take Blasdell into custody, also recovering his handgun, a .357 Glock.
He remains lodged at the Tuscola County Jail.
