LOGAN — A 39-year-old Young Ward man has waived his right to a preliminary hearing and pleaded guilty to firearms possession and stalking charges. Michael Durand told a judge, “I just want to go back to work,” as prosecutors expressed concern about the defendant’s intentions.

Durand appeared in 1st District Court Thursday afternoon. He waived his right to the hearing and pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing a firearm by a restricted person, a second-degree felony, and one count of stalking, a class A misdemeanor. As part of the deal, prosecutors dropped the 13 remaining charges against him.

Cache County Sheriff’s deputies began investigating Durand after receiving a complaint that he was a suspect in a domestic violence case. Detectives began monitoring him. In one night, they tracked him to the workplace of a female individual and also to a city in Box Elder County, where he left a death threat on the car of a male individual.

SWAT teams apprehended Durand later and executed a search warrant on his home. They found multiple firearms and a large amount of ammunition. He was later booked into the Cache County Jail.

During Thursday’s hearing, defense attorney Shannon Demler asked the court to release Durand until he was sentenced. He told the judge, his client was very apologetic and humble.

Prosecutor Jacob Gordon expressed concern, telling the court the relationship between Durand and the victim was toxic. He later asked for an ankle monitor to be ordered, if Durand was able to post bail. He said, “I would just like to know where he is.”

Judge Brian Cannell agreed to the monitor and ordered Durand to have no contact with the victim if he posts bail. He also scheduled sentencing for January 23.

<hr /><p style=”text-align: center;”>will@cvradio.com