Three await sentencing in jewelry store B & E

By Charles Sercombe
The Citezen

A Hamtramck man was found not guilty of conspiring to break into a Mt. Pleasant jewelry store after a week-long trial.

But two other suspects in the case, Leonard Dushi and Petrit Imeri, both 20 and of Casmere St., pleaded,,no-contest to break-in charges.

Another member of the group, Lisa Bardy, 23, of Norwalk St., pleaded no-contest to conspiracy to commit burglary.

Gjon Bucaj, 23, of Trowbridge St., the only suspect to request a trial, beat the charges of conspiracy to commit burglary and possession 1 burglary tools. He had been held in custody since January following his arrest after a Mt. Pleasant jewelry store was broken into.

Bucaj's attorney, James Galen Jr., said his client had driven with Bardy to her grandmother's cottage in Beavertown, just north of Mt. Pleasant on the same day as the break-in. Although Bucaj was acquainted with the other two suspects, he was unaware of a break-in being planned for that day or Bardy's role in it, Galen said.

"He was on his way to a vacation that turned into a nightmare for him," Galen said.

But according to police testimony, Bucaj was seen driving in Mt. Pleasant with Dushi and Petrit on the eve of the break-in.

Galen lashed out at Troy police, who were investigating the suspects following two burglaries in Troy, for sweeping Bucaj up with little evidence. "They never had my client, Gjon Bucaj, one foot near Arthur's (the Mt. Pleasant jewelry store). No foot print. Nothing," said Galen.

Troy police teamed up with Hamtramck. investigators in a surveillance of the suspects. Hamtramck police say the group is suspected in a number of jewelry store break-ins in the metro area and in several other states. There are no pending charges against any of the defendants.

Dushi and Imeri are in custody in Isabella County jail pending an April 23 sentencing date. They face 10 years in prison. Bardy has been out on bond and has an April 7 sentencing date. Under her plea agreement, she. faces no more than one year in jail.

None of the men is employed, but Bardy works as a secretary at Hamtramck High School.

Hamtramck woman's case dismissed By MIKE STOLLER Sun Staff Writer Court documents were filed Wednesday dismissing all charges against a Hamtramck woman in connection with the Jan. 9 burglary attempt at Arthur's Jewelers on Mission in Mt. Pleasant. On Feb. 25, Lisa Marie Bardy, 24, had attempted to plead Ds, contest to conspiracy to commit burglary, but acting circuit court Judge Bill Ervin did not accept the plea, instead taking it under advisement.

Defense attorney James L. Galen Jr. of Warren later took over Bardy's case and was granted a motion withdrawing Bardy's plea and opted for going to trial. Isabella County Prosecutor Larry Burdick agreed to a plea bargain agreement instead, which delayed sentencing on Bardy for six months with the inclusion of probationary restrictions. Galen said Ervin cut short Bardy's probationary status Monday because she had an opportunity to begin a career in California. Bardy was arrested with Gjon Bucaj, Leonard Dushi and Petrit Imeri after a team of 10 undercover police officers followed them to Mt. Pleasant from Hamtramck. Imeri and Dushi were con-victed for their roles in the attempted burglary. Charges against Bucaj, who had driven with Bardy separately, were dismissed in March.