Robbery suspect arrested in Ohio, returned to Munising for trial

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MUNISING - An Ohio woman who failed to appear for her jury trial last month in Alger County for armed robbery waived an extradition hearing in Ohio and was returned to Munising Friday.

Munising City Police Chief Steve Swanberg said in a news release that Antoinette Elyse Heiser, 20, of Fostoria, Ohio was arrested July 8 by city police officers in Fostoria after an investigation conducted by Munising Police and the U.S. Marshal's Service.

A bond forfeiture hearing is set for 2:30 p.m. Monday in Alger County Circuit Court for Heiser. She is facing charges of bond forfeiture and absconding.

Heiser, whose original $500,000 bond was reduced last year since her arraignment, posted 10 percent of a $100,000 bond on Dec. 24, 2007 and had remained free, pending her trial.

Heiser was set to stand trial on June 23 in connection with the Nov. 25, 2007 robbing of a clerk at the Superior Shell Service Station in Munising. But with prospective jurors sitting in the courtroom awaiting the jury selection process, Judge William Carmody announced Heiser had not appeared for trial and excused the jury pool.

A warrant for Heiser's arrest was subsequently issued.

Still unresolved is Heiser's original charged offense of aiding and abetting an armed robbery, which carries a sentence of up to life in prison.

Last month, a co-defendant in the case stopped his scheduled jury trial by pleading guilty moments before jury selection was set to begin.

Marcus Keyshawn Means, 16, of Detroit pleaded guilty to armed robbery under a plea agreement. He was sentenced to serve 42 months to 15 years in state prison for the crime.

The robbery was reported to police at about 10:45 p.m. Nov. 25. Service station clerk Troy Riley, 19, said a young, black male approached him wearing a white mask over his face and a hooded jacket.

According to police reports discussing a surveillance videotape, the robber pointed the gun at Riley, cocked the gun, told the clerk he wasn't playing with him and demanded all of the money out of the till.

"Take it all," Riley replied.

The robber then left the gas station on foot.

Means and Heiser were located at a local motel by police, just over an hour after the robbery. Witness reports led police to the motel, which was located near the gas station.