Trial begins in U.P. ethnic intimidation case

The trial of an upper peninsula man accused of intimidating a black family is underway in Marquette.

The Marquette Mining Journal reports that Casey Clarence Trobridge, 41, of Trenary is facing trial on charges stemming from a July incident. Trobridge is one of two men accused in the crime, but the other man, Max Charles Fisher, 32, of Eben Junction, pleaded guilty Tuesday to a misdemeanor charge of attempted ethnic intimidation.

Both men are accused of knocking on the door of the Sean Lewis on July 17. When Lewis, who is black, answered the door, he was greeted by “Fisher, who wore a black vest with Nazi swastikas on it.”

Here is how the Mining Journal reports the rest of the contact:

Lewis said he asked Fisher – who like Trobridge he had never met before – how he was doing. According to Lewis, Fisher responded, “I was doing alright until you got here.”

Lewis said Fisher – who like Trobridge had allegedly been drinking – continued to do the talking.

“He said, ‘Don’t get comfortable,’” Lewis said. “You and your family need to move or something bad is going to happen to you.”

Lewis said the men left on their own and walked away on the sidewalk. Lewis said his wife didn’t believe him when he told her what had just happened.

Lewis’ wife, Tara, testified she approached the men, who were at that point in a car which was parked in front of the couple’s home. There were allegedly two other men in the car.

She approached the men, who got back out of the car.

“I asked if there’s a problem.” she said. “They said, ‘Yeah, there’s a problem, you brought a n– to this town.’”

If convicted, Trobridge faces up to two years in prison, or a fine of $5,000 or both. Fisher was sentenced to a $1000 fine, a year of probation and 30 days in jail for his misdemeanor guilty plea.