MARQUETTE - Marquette County District Court Judge Dennis Girard bound two men over to circuit court Wednesday on charges related to an alleged methamphetamine lab explosion that sent one man to the hospital with severe burns earlier this month.
Aaron Armatti, 38, owner of the 235 Elm St. residence in Gwinn where the alleged incident occurred, is charged with one count of operating a methamphetamine lab, a crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
Richard Hill, 37, who police said was homeless but was staying with Armatti, is charged with one count of delivery or manufacture of methamphetamines or ecstasy, a 20-year felony.
Armatti and Hill are scheduled for arraignment in circuit court at 10:30 a.m. Jan. 6.
Bridget Black, 33, of Gwinn, was charged with one count of operating a methamphetamine lab. However, Black made a plea agreement in which, in exchange for her testimony against Armatti and Hill, she pleaded guilty to one count of operating under the influence-causing serious injury, a five-year felony, and one count of use of a controlled substance (morphine), a one-year misdemeanor, according to Marquette County Chief Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Matthew Wiese.
She will also receive a recommendation that her sentence be served in the Marquette County Jail rather than state prison.
The burn victim, Brian Howe, 43, of Marquette, was listed in critical condition this morning at the University of Michigan Burn Unit in Lansing.
During her testimony at the preliminary examination, Black admitted to purchasing the pseudoephedrine used in the alleged meth lab.
Black said Armatti called her a for a ride to the store. When she arrived at his home, she saw that Hill and Howe were already there. Black identified Armatti and Hill in court and testified that Howe was the father of her two children.
She said the group discussed making meth and asked her to buy the pseudoephedrine. She said Howe "was known to be familiar with meth, good at making it and good at getting product."
Black testified that she went to Snyder Drugs in Gwinn and bought one box of Sudafed. When she returned to the house, the group told her she had bought the wrong kind of drug. Black said she couldn't remember specifically who said what during either conversation.
"Everyone in the room told me I had bought the wrong stuff," she said.
She said she and Hill then went to Marquette to buy more pseudoephedrine, making stops at Walmart, Menards, Walgreens and Shopko. Black said she bought one more box of Sudafed, though she couldn't remember from which store. She also said Hill bought an ice pack and other items before they drove back to Gwinn.
Black said when they returned to Armatti's home, she opted not to go inside. She said she didn't want to be involved any further and decided to go to a friend's house half a block away.
Armatti's attorney, Karl Numinen, argued that since Black was not in Armatti's home when the alleged explosion occurred, she could not know if he was there or not. Numinen said Armatti was not involved in the manufacturing of meth, or with procuring any of the ingredients needed.
At about 11 p.m., Black said Hill arrived at her friend's home.
"Ricky came running into the door and yelled, 'We just blew up. Brian's on fire,'" she said.
Black testified that she went back to Armatti's home, where she saw Howe sitting outside.
"He was on the steps, smoldering," she said.
Black said she and Howe got into a car and Howe began driving the two to Marquette General Hospital. His severe burn injuries were apparent.
"He was in no condition to drive. I was trying to console him and tell him we love him and I was hoping that he lived," she said, adding that Howe kept saying that he "shouldn't have used the stuff. It was the wrong stuff."
Once they arrived at the hospital, the Marquette City Police Department was notified of Howe's condition.
Forsyth Township Police Department Sgt. Brian Kjellin testified that he received a call from Marquette police notifying him of a possible meth lab explosion and that Howe had injuries consistent with chemical burns. A Michigan State Police trooper told Kjellin that Howe was known to associate with Armatti.
Four police officers were sent to Armatti's home. Kjellin said he knocked on the door and a voice inside said "I'm in the shower."
The police waited until Armatti opened the door, wearing a towel and underwear.
"I could smell a chemical odor coming from the residence," Kjellin said. "There was a burn mark on the wall and a white, powdery substance splattered all over."
Kjellin testified that Armatti told him "Ricky almost burnt my house down."
He said Armatti "seemed shaken up."
After Armatti consented to a search of his home, police said they found materials that could be used in the manufacture of methamphetamine.
Jackie Stark can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 242.
