Onaway man faces numerous charges in three county crime spree

An Onaway man, facing nine charges in 26th Circuit Court in Presque Isle County, will have to answer to another charge in Cheboygan County. Troopers from the Cheboygan State Police arrested David Allen James, 27, of Adrian and Abraham Robert Helsel, 25, of Onaway for the breaking and entering of Brady?s Country Store in Afton.

The two were arraigned in 89th District Court in Cheboygan February 4 and 5. The B&E of the Afton business on September 28, 2002 involved the theft of an ATM machine and other merchandise. The ATM machine was recovered a few days later, abandoned off a two-track a few miles east of Afton. This crime went unsolved until these same suspects were arrested by troopers during a B&E in progress at the BP gas station in Atlanta during the early morning hours of October 11.

A joint law enforcement investigation between Cheboygan, Presque Isle and Montmorency counties produced multiple charges of B&E and safe breaking on the subjects, in all three counties. The B&E ring operated between the summer and fall of 2002 with the

ir primary focus on commercial businesses, especially gas stations and party stores. Helsel allegedly broke into several businesses in Rogers City in early September and a house trailer on Twin School Highway in October.

Helsel faced an additional charge of assault and resisting and obstructing police when an officer from the Presque Isle County Sheriff?s Department had to intervene in a fight September 20. His next court appearance in Presque Isle County is February 24 in front of Judge John F. Kowalski. James? bond was set at $200,000, while Helsel?s is at $100,000 on the new charges from the Afton break in.

Helsel?s preliminary exam is scheduled for February 12 at 1:30 p.m. and James February 19. Both are charged as habitual offenders and could face up to life in prison. James was on parole when he allegedly committed these crimes.