Man jailed for theft from Michigan state forest campgrounds

Lansing — A Sunfield, Mich., man returned to the Luce County District Court June 16 for a restitution hearing regarding his involvement in a series of state forest campground thefts in the Upper Peninsula.

Justyn Mark Spitzley, 36, targeted several payment collection sites in which campers deposit cash – known as pay pipes – last fall.

Following his February arraignment, Spitzley pleaded guilty to one felony charge of larceny of more than $1,000 but less than $20,000, and one misdemeanor charge of operating on a suspended license.

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The court ordered Spitzley to pay an additional $6,000 in restitution and a $2,000 reimbursement for cash that was recovered as evidence at the time of his arrest in October.

He also was sentenced to one year in jail with credit for 81 days served.

Spitzley was lodged in the Ionia County Jail on unrelated charges, then transferred in April to the Alger County Jail where he will serve the remainder of his one-year sentence.

Campgrounds Spitzley stole from include Perch Lake, Lake Superior, Blind Sucker No. 1 and No. 2, and Mouth of the Two Hearted River.