U.P Business Shut, Owner Arrested
An Upper Michigan businessman is in jail tonight and one of his shops is ordered closed as he faces felony drug charges. Michael Carey Jestila of Houghton was arrested tonight. 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 at 215 South Front Street in Marquette. 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. Last month officers executed a search warrant for the downtown Marquette business as well as Jestila’s Houghton business.
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.
A hearing set before the judge has been scheduled for February 23rd.
Jestila is being held on $100,000 bond.
Posted by Jen Cleary