article courtesy of The Morning Sun
A former Rolland Township man who led an online and court battle against the Isabella sheriff’s department and judiciary and unsuccessfully ran for sheriff in 2012 is jailed in Bay County on several felony charges.
Theodore Visner – who threatened armed resistance if Isabella deputies attempted to arrest him and claimed to have the backing of militia groups two years ago – was charged with four felonies in Bay County on Wednesday.
MILITIA SAYS NO: Not supporting Visner
He faces two counts of delivery or manufacturing marijuana and two counts of possessing a firearm in the commission of a felony, according to Bay County court records.
Visner, 50, came to the attention of Isabella law enforcement several years ago when he claimed he was illegally evicted from a rental home owned by a sheriff’s department employee.
He later faced several misdemeanor charges for refusing to leave a second home from which he was evicted for non-payment on his mortgage.
Jurors in November 2015 rendered guilty verdicts for trespassing, squatting, driving without insurance and driving an unregistered car, Judge William Ervin ordered Visner to pay a total of $1,125 in fines and state costs.
VISNER CONVICTED: Four misdemeanors
Those convictions came after a months-long standoff of sorts in which Visner claimed to have the support of militia groups who would support his right to stay in the Rolland Township home.
Several militia groups heard his appeals and later denied any involvement or willingness to support his cause.
The Southwest Michigan Volunteer Militia posted a “special attention” message on their Facebook page two years ago denouncing Visner.
“It has been brought to our attention that a non-governmental group known as AXL has made claims that Militias in the State of Michigan are taking up arms since the arrest of Ted Visner,” read the notice. “We know of no other militia in Michigan that has expressed interest in assisting Ted Visner, we highly recommend to our members to not get involved.”
Visner’s trial two years ago capped years of legal and social media attacks lodged against Isabella County law enforcement and judges, causing Prosecutor Risa Hunt-Scully to request jail time because of suspected mental health issues.
Hunt-Scully said sometimes the case went off on wild tangents with a bit of smoke and mirrors, and that it had nothing to do with prior accusations by Visner about county officials, his lawsuit against the county or any other issue brought forth by the defendant.
Hunt-Scully told jurors that Visner continued living in the home at 7287 W. Fremont Road in Rolland Township from the time Judge Eric Janes signed an eviction order until his arrest Sept. 17 that year at Maxfield’s restaurant in Montcalm County.
Visner was arraigned on the Bay County charges on Wednesday.
He declined a court-appointed attorney and, like he did in the Isabella trial, said he would handle his own defense.
A preliminary examination is set for Oct. 26.
