Brooks waives arraignment in child accosting case

Donald David Brooks, 31 years old, will waive his right to an arraignment in Houghton County’s  12th Circuit Court. Last week, Brooks’ case was bonded over to the circuit court from the 97th District Court. He has been charged with one count of using a computer to commit a crime and one count of accosting a child for immoral purposes. As the case remains ongoing, prosecutor Dan Helmer says both counts have been charged as felony offenses, adding that his office extended a plea offer to Brooks to plead to the charges as presented in court. The Daily Mining Gazette reported on Thursday that Brooks was caught in a third-party sting that used a decoy. The sting operator coordinated with Michigan State Police to arrest Brooks in September. He has been released on a personal recognizance bond.