Bay City man likely to plead in child abuse case and avoid jail

A 24-year-old Bay City man is likely to avoid incarceration if he accepts a plea deal in a child abuse case. Kyle M. Witkop on Monday waived his right to a preliminary examination before Bay County District Judge Mark E. Janer. The judge bound Witkop over to Circuit Court, where he is scheduled to enter a plea before Judge Kenneth W. Schmidt at 8:30 a.m. on Dec. 5, court records show. The deal stipulates that if Witkop pleads guilty or no contest to a two-year felony count of third-degree child abuse, prosecutors will recommend his jail time be deferred. If he completes the terms of his deferment, he will be allowed to withdraw his plea and plead to a lesser count of attempted third-degree child abuse, court records show.

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