http://detnews.com/article/20110615/METRO03/106150395/1408/local
Three men charged in alleged threats to cut teens with saw
Christine Ferretti/ The Detroit News
Sterling Heights— Three men were arraigned this afternoon on multiple felony charges stemming from claims they kidnapped a group of teens, bound them with duct tape and threatened to cut off their fingers and toes with a circular saw.
Vincent Ralph Bosca and Allen Roy Brontkowski, both 45 of Sterling Heights, and Gerald Henry King Jr., 45, of Shelby Township were each arraigned on one count of extortion and four counts each of unlawful imprisonment and assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder and felony firearm charges connected to the Monday incident.
Bosca, who runs a licensed medical marijuana grow operation at his home in the 13000 block of Canal, is also charged with delivery and manufacturing marijuana and maintaining a drug house.
Sterling Heights Police responded to Bosca's home around 1:45 p.m. Monday after a woman called authorities to report that her 16-year-old son had been assaulted there.
When authorities arrived, Bosca claimed that his home had been burglarized several days ago and that he'd heard that several 15- and 16-year-old boys, who live outside the city and attend Dakota High School, were responsible. Sterling Heights Police Lt. Luke Riley said Bosca claimed that six or eight ounces of marijuana had been taken, but he did not report the alleged burglary.
Riley said Bosca's 15-year-old son, who attends school with the juveniles, allegedly lured the teens to the home under the pretenses that they would get an ounce of marijuana for free, police say.
Once the four juveniles arrived, police say Bosca and his two friends took the teens into the basement, bound them with duct tape and pistol-whipped one of the boys and struck them with the scabbard of a samurai sword.
Police say the three men also threatened to cut off their fingers and toes with a circular power saw while they held it next to one victim's face as it was running.
Sterling Heights Detective Jackie Calhoun told Sterling Heights District Judge Kimberley Wiegand that all of the suspects told the teens that they would "kill them and their family if they contacted police."
Wiegand set a $500,000 cash or surety bond for both Bosca and Brontkowski and a $250,000 bond for King.
Two of the teens were able to flee before being abducted, one of whom called his mother, who contacted police.
The teens sustained bruises, contusions and lacerations in the alleged attack.
Bosca's retained attorney, Nicki Weisberger, told the court that her client has worked for General Motors for 20 years and is a "responsible father" who has joint custody of his two children and has the "full support of his family."
Bosca's mother, Pat Bosca, would only say her son was "trying to protect his house."
Both King and Brontkowski told the judge that they are currently unemployed.
King's mother pleaded with the judge to release her son on a personal bond noting that all of his family is in southeast Michigan and he has a daughter who will be 3 in August.
King's mother declined to give her name or comment after the hearing.
A preliminary hearing is set for June. 24.
[email protected]
From The Detroit News: http://detnews.com/article/20110615...d-threats-to-cut-teens-with-saw#ixzz1Phvi2543
Three men charged in alleged threats to cut teens with saw
Christine Ferretti/ The Detroit News
Sterling Heights— Three men were arraigned this afternoon on multiple felony charges stemming from claims they kidnapped a group of teens, bound them with duct tape and threatened to cut off their fingers and toes with a circular saw.
Vincent Ralph Bosca and Allen Roy Brontkowski, both 45 of Sterling Heights, and Gerald Henry King Jr., 45, of Shelby Township were each arraigned on one count of extortion and four counts each of unlawful imprisonment and assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder and felony firearm charges connected to the Monday incident.
Bosca, who runs a licensed medical marijuana grow operation at his home in the 13000 block of Canal, is also charged with delivery and manufacturing marijuana and maintaining a drug house.
Sterling Heights Police responded to Bosca's home around 1:45 p.m. Monday after a woman called authorities to report that her 16-year-old son had been assaulted there.
When authorities arrived, Bosca claimed that his home had been burglarized several days ago and that he'd heard that several 15- and 16-year-old boys, who live outside the city and attend Dakota High School, were responsible. Sterling Heights Police Lt. Luke Riley said Bosca claimed that six or eight ounces of marijuana had been taken, but he did not report the alleged burglary.
Riley said Bosca's 15-year-old son, who attends school with the juveniles, allegedly lured the teens to the home under the pretenses that they would get an ounce of marijuana for free, police say.
Once the four juveniles arrived, police say Bosca and his two friends took the teens into the basement, bound them with duct tape and pistol-whipped one of the boys and struck them with the scabbard of a samurai sword.
Police say the three men also threatened to cut off their fingers and toes with a circular power saw while they held it next to one victim's face as it was running.
Sterling Heights Detective Jackie Calhoun told Sterling Heights District Judge Kimberley Wiegand that all of the suspects told the teens that they would "kill them and their family if they contacted police."
Wiegand set a $500,000 cash or surety bond for both Bosca and Brontkowski and a $250,000 bond for King.
Two of the teens were able to flee before being abducted, one of whom called his mother, who contacted police.
The teens sustained bruises, contusions and lacerations in the alleged attack.
Bosca's retained attorney, Nicki Weisberger, told the court that her client has worked for General Motors for 20 years and is a "responsible father" who has joint custody of his two children and has the "full support of his family."
Bosca's mother, Pat Bosca, would only say her son was "trying to protect his house."
Both King and Brontkowski told the judge that they are currently unemployed.
King's mother pleaded with the judge to release her son on a personal bond noting that all of his family is in southeast Michigan and he has a daughter who will be 3 in August.
King's mother declined to give her name or comment after the hearing.
A preliminary hearing is set for June. 24.
[email protected]
From The Detroit News: http://detnews.com/article/20110615...d-threats-to-cut-teens-with-saw#ixzz1Phvi2543
