April 26, 2021 at 11:27 a.m.
U.P. woman charged with threatening witness in drug case
U.P. woman charged with threatening witness in drug case
By By River News Staff-
Fawn M. Wiitala made her initial appearance April 13 before Oneida County Circuit Judge Patrick O'Melia on charges of felony bail jumping and felony intimidation of a witness. The charges were originally filed March 5, after Oneida County sheriff's detectives learned that she had sent several text messages to a friend stating she was going to do harm to the person she believed was scheduled to testify at her upcoming jury trial.
Over the course of verifying the threats, detectives also learned that Wiitala had been charged with new felony charge of possession of a controlled substance, narcotic or cocaine less than 25 grams Feb. 19 in Michigan, according to the complaint.
Wiitala was arrested with another individual and charged Sept. 2, 2020 with possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of THC, both misdemeanors, along with the class C felony of possession with intent to deliver amphetamine.
At her most recent pretrial conference, Wiitala's public defender Elizabeth Svehlek stated there was no resolution to the case. A status conference was scheduled for June 29, with a two-day jury trial to start Aug. 9.
At her initial appearance on the new case in Oneida County, Wiitala told O'Melia that she was just "running her mouth" and "wouldn't really hurt anyone." O'Melia said that the wording of the messages concerned him, adding that she can say she is "harmless," until "someone turns up missing."
He then ordered her held on a $7,500 cash bond on the new charge.
Her next court appearance will be a preliminary hearing on the new charge April 29.
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