Menominee County Conviction, Sentences Upheld by Appellate Court
MENOMINEE, MI— The Michigan Court of Appeals has upheld the conviction of Nicholas Rivard, a Menominee man, on drug charges. Rivard, 39, was found guilty in October of 2022 of two counts of delivery of meth, two counts of delivery of less than 50 grams of a mixture containing fentanyl, and one count of maintaining a drug house. As a third-offense habitual offender, he received concurrent sentences of 7.5 to 40 years in prison for the delivery convictions and 32 months to 4 years for maintaining a drug house.
Rivard appealed the convictions, citing entrapment and the prosecution’s failure to produce a confidential informant at trial. However, the appellate court noted significant discrepancies between Rivard’s testimony and that of the undercover officers, leading them to deem his testimony less credible. Additionally, it was revealed that Rivard had prior knowledge of the informant’s identity well before the trial commenced.
After careful consideration, the appellate court decided to uphold Rivard’s conviction and respective sentences. This ruling serves as a testament to the court’s commitment to ensuring justice is served and upholding the law in Menominee County.