NEWBERRY, MI— A pretrial hearing is set for a downstate man accused of stealing money from State Forest campsites in Luce County.
Justyn Spitzley, 36, of Sunfield was arrested on a 13-count warrant and arraigned February 14 in Luce County District Court. He’s charged with larceny-greater than $1,000 but less than $20,000, 11 counts of breaking and entering a coin-operated device, and operating a vehicle with a suspended or revoked license.
The Department of Natural Resources says over the past two camping seasons, personnel found that remote Luce County State Forest campgrounds were coming up short in campsite fees.
The DNR set up surveillance with help from Michigan State Police, Sault Ste. Marie Police officers, and the Mackinac Bridge Authority. On October 19 and 20, 2024, Spitzley was caught breaking into several campground pay pipes.
He was arrested and found to be in possession of a large amount of stolen cash, a burglary tool, and other evidence of the crimes.
A pretrial hearing for Spitzley is scheduled for March 17.
