The probable cause conference for Hillsdale County Sheriff Scott Hodshire was moved to Nov. 18 as lawyers comb over discovery.

Hodshire faces a pair of felony counts — obstruction of justice and misconduct in office — authorized by the Michigan Attorney General’s Office. He was formally arraigned Sept. 2 before specially assigned visiting judge Daniel Goostrey of Jackson County’s 12th District Court, and pleaded not guilty through his attorney, John Shea of Ann Arbor.

Prosecutors allege that between Feb. 18 and March 5 in Camden Township, Hodshire disclosed confidential details of an active felony theft investigation to a Hillsdale County resident and the resident’s relatives while acting in his official capacity. 

Each of the two felony charges carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000, or both, under the state’s statute for common-law offenses that lack a more specific penalty. 

These figures represent the statutory maximums. Any sentence, if he is convicted, would be set according to Michigan’s sentencing guidelines and the judge’s discretion, and a conviction could also affect his ability to hold office.

Hodshire released a statement maintaining his innocence Sept. 2.

“I have spent a career upholding, defending and protecting the rule of law, certainly not breaking it,” Hodshire wrote. “Not one person from my office nor myself did anything intended to interfere with a sister agency’s investigation or otherwise take action that was knowingly criminal in nature.”

The Nov. 3 conference was set when the parties agreed to push back the Sept. 30 conference. Shea originally requested an extension until Sept. 30 to give the defense time to go over discovery and review the state’s evidence against Hodshire. His office will now have an additional two weeks.

The Nov. 18 conference, set to start at 10:15 a.m., is expected to address remaining discovery issues and set a date for a formal probable cause hearing that will determine whether the case advances toward trial.