(12-12-24) Gary Stelzer (77) of Coldwater pleaded no contest this morning in Celina Municipal Court and was found guilty of a 1st degree misdemeanor charge of assault.

A no-contest plea is a statement made by the defendant in a criminal case where they neither admit nor deny the charges against them but agree to accept punishment. Essentially, it’s a way for the defendant to avoid admitting guilt while acknowledging that the prosecution has enough evidence to likely convict them.

On September 20th…Stelzer, working as a Coldwater School Bus Driver, allegedly grabbed a child by the hair and sat him up in his seat.