Michigan Criminal Lawyers Blog
18-year-old Ronald Lamont Williams Jr. of Benton Harbor was recently sentenced to 135 months to 35 years in prison for his role in an April 2012 triple shooting in Oshtemo Township. According to a news article at Mlive.com, Judge Pamela L. Lightvoet, who sentenced Williams, said that the downward departure in sentencing for attempted murder and assault with intent to rob while armed was due solely to the fact that Williams had cooperated fully with police and prosecutors.
Williams was initially charged with several counts including two counts of attempted murder, two counts of assault with intent to rob while armed, seven counts of felony use of a firearm, and one count of conspiracy to commit a legal act in an illegal manner, all of which were dismissed as part of his plea agreement. The charges stemmed from a triple shooting that took place at the Concord Place Apartments on April 11 of 2012. Three men were injured in the shootings, however investigators with the Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s department said they were not seriously hurt.
Three other individuals were involved in the shooting along with Williams; those included Dallas Timokin Givhan, 18, Tyshaun Derrell Robinson, 19, and Keyshawn Israel Givhan, 17.
News reports indicate that three individuals who were inside the apartment at the time were shot after a boy came inside the apartment and began screaming, “Where’s the money,” to which one of the victims replied “What money? I don’t know what money you’re talking about.” At that point, one of the four teens began firing a gun at the occupants of the apartment, who were sitting on the couch.
Williams was ordered by Lightvoet to pay $20,188.89 in restitution along with attorney and state fees, and court costs.
Michigan criminal defense lawyers understand that in a case involving attempted murder and assault with intent to rob, the punishment handed down to Williams could have been far more severe. In fact, individuals may be sentenced for any number of years up to life in prison for attempted murder in the state of Michigan.
If you or a loved one have been arrested or are under investigation for a serious or violent crime, contact a capable and aggressive Michigan criminal defense attorney immediately