Business Owner Arraigned in Marquette

An Upper Michigan businessman has been arraigned in Marquette County on felony drug charges. Michael Carey Jestila of Houghton was arrested Friday evening. The arrest was made in the City of Houghton on a two count felony warrant authorized by the Marquette County Prosecutor’s Office.

Jestila is the owner of Backroom Obsessions in Marquette and Houghton. He has been charged with two counts of delivery and manufacture of a controlled substance. The felony crime is punishable by up to 7 years in prison and or a $10,000 fine.

The charges stem from a joint investigation by the Upper Peninsula Substance Enforcement Team and the Marquette City Police. In December, officers executed a simultaneous search warrant for the downtown Marquette and Houghton businesses. Police seized numerous materials that were found to contain controlled substances from the Marquette location.

Circuit Court Judge Thomas Solka has temporarily declared Backroom Obsessions to be a public and common law nuisance, and shut the business down pending further proceedings.

Jestila is being held on a total of $100,000 cash surety bond. A preliminary hearing is set for February 10th.