Judge denies man's 'no contest' plea

A district judge on Monday denied a Troy man’s ‘no contest’ plea in his fourth charge of partner or family member assault, according to court documents.

Charles R. Norman, 36, of Troy, entered the plea before District Judge James Wheelis, who denied the entry after saying he didn’t believe Norman fully understood his plea.

Todd Glazier, Norman’s attorney, said he has scheduled another change of plea.

“It will be a no contest,” Glazier said.

According to court documents Norman was arrested on July 7 after Troy Police Officer Christopher Pape had heard of an assault that had occurred on the morning of July 4, when Norman allegedly assaulted Lacy Koch. She told Pape that she arrived back at her home in the early hours of July 4 and that Norman began yelling at her. She also said she doesn’t remember the entire event, only Norman’s hands around her neck and waking up hours later with Norman sleeping on the floor nearby.

Norman reported that he was asleep when Koch came home and started beating him in his bed. He then shoved her off, according to Glazier, with enough force to send Koch into a wall and swell her eye.