CMU graduate student faces 11 felonies, has preliminary exam Friday
A Central Michigan University graduate student is facing 11 felony charges after allegedly stealing more than $30,000 worth of CMU property.
Cole Raymond McDonald, a 25-year-old graduate student from Pennsylvania, could face up to life in prison for charges including counterfeiting, breaking and entering and a series of larcenies dating back to early April.
According to CMU Police Department Lt. Larry Klaus, Biology Lab Manager Thomas Schultz, contacted CMUPD Officer Michael Sienkiewicz about the theft of two microscopes valued at more than $4,000. Klaus said they believed the burglaries took place on Dec. 15.
“We’ve had a series of burglaries and larcenies here at the university that involved microscopes out of Brooks Hall, as well as a series of thefts of large cartilage printers," Klaus said. "From previous thefts, the police department had installed surveillance cameras in and around Brooks Hall. Through the camera surveillance and Wi-Fi technology, we were able to identify the suspect, which we arrested on Dec. 19.”
When the police and the Bay Area Narcotics Enforcement Team arrested McDonald on their search warrant of the 1000 block of East Bennett Street, they found more than the microscopes and printers. Police found evidence of copywriting and counterfeiting violations, which is the charge McDonald could face life in prison for.
Police also discovered McDonald to be in possession of what appeared to be personal information from at least six students, including their social security numbers, Klaus said.
“All six students have been notified to contact the credit reporting bureaus: Experian, Equifax and TransUnion,” Klaus said.
McDonald is currently lodged at the Isabella County Jail on a $90,000 bond. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for McDonald at 8 a.m. on Friday.
