GARY—No matter how many times Gary City Court Judge Deidre Monroe told Michael Modisett she didn’t want to hear his story, the 26-year-old Brunswick man answered every question with a long, sometimes confusing, explanation.
“I was just released from the Lake County Jail, I am supposed to go in the Army. I was asleep and don’t know what happened,” Modisett replied when Monroe asked him to plead guilty or not guilty to the misdemeanor battery charge.
Patrolmen Nicholas Ferrell and Terry Peck arrested Modisett about 1:30 a.m. Wednesday after his brother called police and said Modisett had attacked him. Police noted the victim had marks on his neck, the arrest report states.
The victim told officers Modisett had tried to “sexually molest” the victim’s girlfriend, then “punched, hit and tried to choke” him, the report states.
“I can’t go to jail, I was just in court. I was released because I wanted to go to the Army and the Army would take care of my problems. I am still waiting for the recruiter,” Modisett told the judge.
Despite Modisett’s pleas, Monroe set bail at $1,000 cash and asked the court staff to call a local recruiting office.