Gladwin County Prosecutor's Office

12/10/2025

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07/24/2025

PRESS RELEASE:

On July 22, 2025 the Michigan State Police Ma*****na and To***co Investigation Section executed search warrants at 3905 and 3925 Woods Road in Gladwin based upon information obtained from Consumers Energy regarding electricity theft and a possible illegal ma*****na grow operation. During the investigation detectives discovered over 400 ma*****na plants in various states of growth in retrofitted pole barns, significant amounts of harvested ma*****na, fi****ms, and evidence that the electrical meters for both properties had been tampered with to divert the reporting of how much electricity had been consumed. It is estimated that the properties have diverted over $100,000.00 worth of electricity without payment for that usage. Ivan Pardo, the registered owner of both addresses and who was present at the time of the search, has been charged with two counts of Delivery or Manufacture of 45 Kilograms or more of Ma*****na, a 15 year felony, as well as Illegal Sale or Transfer of Utility Services, a 5 year felony, and Felony Firearm, a 2 year felony. The Defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty, and will be arraigned on July 24, 2025 in the 80th District Court in Gladwin. The Gladwin County Prosecutor’s Office would like to thank the Michigan State Police Ma*****na and To***co Investigation Section for their hard work thus far on this investigation.

While the possession of limited quantities of ma*****na is legal in the State of Michigan, and growing ma*****na for limited personal use is not necessarily criminal, commercial growing and distribution of ma*****na is regulated by the State of Michigan for the safety of everyone. Unsanctioned commercial growing poses a health risk to those who consume it, and “black market ma*****na” is often used as a currency for illegal drugs and other criminal enterprises.

05/30/2024

Had a great time celebrating Shelter House and their new SANE suite in Gladwin. This is already a tremendous resource for crime victims in Gladwin County, making reporting crime and collecting evidence easier. Thank you Shelterhouse for everything you do for Gladwin County!

05/27/2024

I had the honor to speak at the Beaverton Memorial Day ceremony this afternoon after a wonderful parade and musical performance by the Beaverton band. It was so wonderful to see so many people out (even in the rain) honoring our fallen heroes. Thank you all for allowing me to say a few words, and once again, thank you to those who served and gave so much so that we can live free. Your sacrifice will never be forgotten!

05/15/2024

It's National Police Week, so yesterday our office hosted a barbecue in honor of the great men and women that keep us safe here in Gladwin County. The steaks seemed to be a hit, Deputy Johnson won our door prize, and everyone seemed to enjoy the time together. We are forever grateful for the hard work, dedication, and sacrifice of our uniformed officers, support staff, and everyone in the law enforcement community. Thank you to everyone who helped us celebrate National Police Week, and most importantly, thank you to our amazing officers!

04/24/2024

04/15/2024

Beaverton City Homicide Case Plea & Sentence...

Michael Durbin II of Flint, Michigan pled no contest in the 55th Circuit Court in Gladwin to Second Degree Murder and was sentenced to 225 months to life in prison. While not making admissions for the sake of possible later civil liability, Mr. Durbin’s plea was treated in the same fashion as a guilty plea or conviction.

I am announcing this plea and sentence in an attempt to put Gladwin County at ease, but also to shift the focus away from the heinous actions of Mr. Durbin and instead to shed light on those who deserve the proper attention. Scott Eckert was taken from his family and friends on June 6, 2023. No plea, conviction, or sentence can bring him back or account for the collective sadness and despair from his untimely death. He was a man of faith, and a part of the Beaverton community for many years. Scott deserved many more years to spend here, and his family and friends deserved many more years with him. Wendy Krohn was not only assaulted and placed in fear for her life that day, but also had to witness someone she cared about die in front of her. With the help of family and friends she is recovering from the emotional wounds of this event, but the scars of that trauma will not fade easily. It is my hope that with the support of this community she can find some semblance of normalcy and happiness in the future.

We may never have arrived at the justice necessary in this case if not for the exemplary work of law enforcement. Several agencies worked collaboratively and effectively to collect evidence and put the pieces together including the Beaverton Police Department, Michigan State Police, and Gladwin County Sheriff's Office. In particular, Chief Brad Davis and the Beaverton Police Department worked tirelessly and left absolutely no stone unturned. Chief Davis had my full confidence throughout the investigation, and he kept me informed at every step along the way. The fact that this case could resolve without need of a traumatic, time consuming, and expensive trial is a direct result of the hard work of Chief Davis and the team of law enforcement professionals he assembled.

I know this was a painful and scary event for many people in the City of Beaverton and Gladwin County. It is nearly unbelievable that something so terrible could happen in such a tight knit and supportive community, but the response to this tragedy, including countless calls from community members offering information or help is a testament to how special the City of Beaverton and Gladwin County are. This community is safer now that Mr. Durbin is behind bars, but it has always been strong, and I believe it will only get stronger as we continue to be there for one another in the future.

01/25/2024

Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Trooper Joel Popp; our thoughts are with MSP and the law enforcement community today. This is a terrible tragedy, and one that is completely avoidable if we all are more cautious. Please remember to slow down on these winter days, especially when you see emergency lights flashing.