Articles Posted in Violent Crime

On September 22, a 64-year-old man was allegedly brutally attacked by three men and a woman in the BP gas station in Detroit located near Interstate 75 at 800 E. Seven Mile. The attack, which was caught on surveillance cameras, showed the victim being savagely attacked as he was dragged, kicked, jumped on, and beaten according to a news article at Mlive.com. Another person who was with the man reportedly fled on foot after being knocked down by the assailants.

The victim was taken to an area hospital with what were reported to be non life-threatening injuries. The three men allegedly attacked the man, while the woman waited in a “get-away” car. Those charged in the attack include 28-year-old Dominique Neal, two counts of accessory after the fact to assault with intent to do great bodily harm and felonious assault; the three men were all charged with two counts each of assault with intent to do great bodily harm, and include 32-year-old Donrico Hawkins, 31-year-old Cortez Hawkins, and 32-year-old Juan Hawkins. Cortez and Juan Hawkins also face one count each of felonious assault.

The victim and his friend were crossing the parking lot at the BP station when they were approached by a man wearing an athletic jersey, who proceeded to punch the older gentlemen before two of his accomplices become involved in the brawl. Dominique Neal, driver of the get-away car, stood by and nonchalantly puts fuel in her car, seemingly paying no attention to the altercation, then drives the vehicle away at approximately the same time the assailants are leaving.

The 64-year-old victim was said to be bleeding from his head and mouth when medics arrived on the scene. While no motive is known for the attack, police believe it was a random incident.

Individuals who are convicted of assault with intent to do great bodily harm will face serious and life-changing consequences. Potential penalties include fines of up to $5,000, up to 10 years in prison, and possibly restitution. In cases where it can be proven that the defendant intended to commit murder, criminal penalties are even more severe.

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In June of 2012, 29-year-old David Meyer died after suffering gunshot wounds allegedly inflicted by 52-year-old Jack Carpenter of Ishpeming. Carpenter claims that he shot Meyer in self-defense after Meyer attempted to assault him with a knife. Carpenter is charged with open murder in the death of the victim; his attorney, Karl Numinen, says that his client was standing his ground, and that his actions were justifiable within Michigan’s stand your ground and self defense law.

Carpenter’s defense attorney requested the judge grant Carpenter immunity, however the judge denied the motion on the basis of allegations made by the prosecutor, who said Carpenter was intoxicated at the time of the shooting.

In August of this year Matt Wiese, Marquette County Prosecutor, explained at a final pretrial hearing that he had offered a plea agreement to Carpenter offering him the opportunity to plead guilty to manslaughter, a 15 year felony. Wiese told the judge that the defendant had rejected the plea deal, so Carpenter would go on trial on charges of open murder and felony firearm.

Carpenter’s trial is set to begin today, September 25 after jury selection was completed on Tuesday. According to a news article at Upper Michigan’s Source, the two men became involved in an altercation at the defendant’s home. Carpenter alleges that the victim threatened him and tried to assault him with a knife, so he defended himself by shooting Meyer.

Michigan homicide defense lawyers understand the life-changing consequences individuals who are convicted of open or first-degree murder face. A conviction on charges of first-degree murder may leave the accused facing life in prison.

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In December of 2012, Royale Runyon allegedly robbed 26-year-old John Breslin as he walked near College Avenue SE in Grand Rapids, then fired a gun at the victim intending to kill him according to a news article at Mlive.com. Last week, after jurors listened to testimony in the case for three days, Runyon was found guilty of robbery and attempted murder after the jury deliberated just one hour.

Runyon allegedly approached the victim, then demanded his valuables after threatening that he had a gun. Breslin then fled and went to the first residence which appeared to be occupied. As Breslin cowered in front of the residence, the defendant allegedly fired a gun, the shot missing Breslin and instead going through the door of the home.

Kellee Koncki, Assistant Kent County Prosecutor, presented witnesses which included some of Runyon’s friends and fellow gang members who testified regarding the gun used at the crime scene. Although witnesses were reluctant, they were able to connect the suspect to a stolen Glock-17 handgun, which allegedly matched a shell casing found at the scene.

Runyon was charged previously in the murders of his best friend and his brother last December. Koncki alleges that the same gun was used in both crimes. Runyon is also suspected of using the same gun a day after the College Avenue incident to kill Evevana Monique-Marie Galloway, although charges have not yet been filed in the case.

Jeffrey Kortes, Runyon’s defense attorney, said that several witnesses called by the prosecutor received “sweet deals” in their own criminal cases for testifying against Runyon. Kortes believes that the witnesses simply said what they thought authorities wanted to hear.

Regardless, jurors found Runyon guilty of the charges against him in the span of an hour. Sentencing is scheduled for October 8; Runyon faces a maximum penalty of life in prison.

Michigan criminal defense attorneys would agree that the defendant in this case seems to be prone to violence if all of the allegations against him are true. Still, it is always sad to see someone who is so young potentially face a lifetime behind bars. Attempted murder and robbery are both extremely serious crimes, however not every case ends in conviction, particularly when the accused has a skilled and aggressive defense lawyer.

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On Monday September 16, 58-year-old Clinton Edward Smith was arraigned in the death of his estranged wife, Delores Mae Smith. The defendant is charged with open murder after allegedly stabbing her to death. Smith was arrested in Saginaw on Friday, September 13 when police found him hiding beneath a trailer after the victim’s body was found dead in her Portage apartment.

Portage police received a call after Smith showed up at his son’s house; according to a news article at Mlive.com, he was wearing clothes that were stained with blood. The victim’s children called police to check on their mother after becoming concerned about her welfare. This is when a Portage Public Safety detective said he went to her apartment on Meredith Street, and found Delores with what he called “a significant wound to the left side of her neck.” The detective went on to say that after asking why the children wanted a welfare check done, they said the defendant was in Saginaw, driving their mother’s car and wearing bloody clothes.

Delores was found with a knife in her left hand, although she is right-handed. Authorities did not believe the stab wound was self-inflicted. Clinton Smith’s children said that he was acting strangely, and would not answer questions about their mother.

Upon searching the victim’s apartment, detectives found blood smeared on the walls, droplets of blood, and bloody clothes under the kitchen table. The detective said blood was also in the bathroom where it looked as though whoever committed the crime had attempted to wash up. The defendant had a blood-stained washcloth with him, which the detective said appeared to be the same as washcloths found at Delores Smith’s apartment.

Clinton Smith is being held in the Kalamazoo County Jail without bond, and is scheduled for a preliminary exam on September 30.

In Michigan, open murder is first-degree murder. This is an extremely serious charge which could leave the defendant facing life in prison. Obtaining the legal support and guidance of a trusted criminal defense attorney is critical, as anyone who is charged with murder must have their legal rights protected. Although homicide is one of the most serious and violent crimes a person can be accused of, every individual is innocent until proven guilty. There are occasions on which police or prosecutors make mistakes. Investigative tactics must be reviewed by a capable lawyer who can determine if your rights were violated.

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In January of this year, 54-year-old Joyce Renee Phillips was sentenced to nine to 15 years in prison for killing Michael Richardson in 2004. Phillips allegedly believed that by pleading guilty to the charge in December of 2012, her sentence would be reduced to 4 1/2 years based on what her attorney told her. At a hearing on Friday September 13, Kent County Circuit Court Judge Paul Sullivan denied Phillips’ request for re-sentencing, and kept the nine to 15 year sentence in place. Phillips also claims that her lawyer never requested the judge consider the low end of the state sentencing guidelines when deciding the sentence she would face.

In 2004, Phillips and the victim became involved in an altercation at the residence where Phillips lived; the two had a long history of domestic violence, which news reports indicate was fueled by alcohol and drugs. Phillips does not deny that she shot the gun she retrieved from one of the children’s rooms, however she denies that she intended to kill Richardson.

Appellate attorney Susan Walsh argued that her client only agreed to plead guilty to manslaughter after her children mislead police, in an effort to protect them from possible prosecution. She also argued that Fred Johnson, Phillips’ attorney at trial, failed to request the judge sentence his client at the low end of Michigan’s state sentencing guidelines. Phillips believed that in pleading guilty, she would spend less than five years behind bars. Walsh concluded that because of this, Phillips had ineffective counsel.

35-year-old Tanoya Phillips, Joyce Phillips’ daughter, testified under oath that she did not know of any gun-related incidents or shootings between her mother and the victim; she pleaded guilty to perjury and was sentenced to one year in jail along with other penalties in March of this year.

Michigan criminal defense lawyers know that there are many times clients are not clear regarding what their attorneys tell them about the potential sentence they will face. In fact, the judge in the above case said that he has seen this many times in his 25 years on the bench. He went on to say that in nearly all cases, prosecutors request the high end sentencing, while defense lawyers request the minimum sentence according to state sentencing guidelines.

What this case really demonstrates is the importance of a client and attorney having a close, understanding relationship. It is critical that criminal defense lawyers make absolutely certain the client clearly understands potential sentencing, and what is at stake at every stage of the process.

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On August 31 two men, 33-year-old Alvin D. Conwell and 25-year-old Greg Owens, were allegedly involved in an argument outside a Detroit home located in the 14100 block of Rutherford. As the argument became heated, the two men engaged in a physical altercation that ultimately resulted in Owens being critically wounded, and a 12-year-old boy, Kenis Green, being shot to death.

Conwell has now been charged with two counts of assault with intent to murder, first-degree premeditated murder, and committing a felony with a firearm.

According to a news article at the Huffington Post, the altercation between Conwell and Owens was fueled by jealousy over Conwell’s girlfriend, who the suspect believed Owens had been talking to. Conwell left the scene following the fight, but came back later in a car, driving by the home and firing at those who were outside.

Sunsearae Hall said that a family birthday party was being held inside the home, and some of the children (including her son Kenis) were outside playing when the shooting took place. Owens allegedly saw the vehicle approaching, and told the children to come inside. Most made it inside safely, but Kenis was struck in the head before he could make it inside. Owens himself was struck in the stomach, and taken to an area hospital in critical condition.

The birthday celebration was in honor of Willie Hall, Kenis’s uncle, who said that all of the kids had been allowed to stay up late and play video games because it was his birthday. The shooting took place at approximately 1 a.m. A news article at The Detroit Press says that the victim’s mother held Kenis as he took his last breath after attempting to run inside and close the door.

First-degree murder is one of the most serious charges anyone can face, and results in extremely serious penalties if convicted. The consequences are life-changing, as someone who is found guilty will face life in prison. To protect your legal rights and freedom, it is imperative that you consult with an aggressive and skilled Michigan criminal defense attorney right away.

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On January 31 of this year, 19-year-old Tyrell Harris became involved in an argument with Kanwarjit “Sonny” Sodhi, a clerk at Eastern Gas and Grocery in Grand Rapids, over the price of a pack of cigarettes. Harris allegedly threatened to kill Sodhi before leaving the store without the cigarettes because the two could not settle a dispute over a .25 cent price discrepancy.

The next day Harris, who is a Chicago native, returned to the area and allegedly fired a gun toward the convenience store and Sodhi; he was arrested and charged with illegal use of a firearm, assault with intent to do great bodily harm, and attempted murder.

Police say that Harris returned to the store the day after the argument with $10 to purchase cigarettes, and that Sodhi told him to leave. Court records revealed that not too long afterward, the store clerk was using his cell phone outside of the store when Harris spotted him, then fired a .40 caliber Heckler & Koch handgun, striking the exterior of the building with some of the bullets lodging inside. Harris maintained throughout the trial that he fired the handgun only in an attempt to frighten Sodhi.

Following the shooting, Harris fled the scene; Grand Rapids police tracked foot prints in the snow near where the .40 caliber gun shells were located, and apprehended the suspect at the Middlebrook apartment complex, where he was arrested. Upon searching the apartment at a later time, investigators found hidden in a freezer a pair of Timberland boots which matched the prints police tracked in the snow.

Harris told police that if he had intended to kill Sodhi, he would have gotten closer instead of firing the shots from more than 100 feet away. Harris’s defense attorney John Grace maintained that his client only meant to scare Sodhi, and there was no intent to kill the store clerk.

Prior to the defendant’s trial starting in July, he was offered a plea agreement which would have left him facing a maximum of three years in prison. He was given the opportunity to plead guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon, or discharging a firearm in or at a building. Harris instead decided to turn down the plea deal, choosing to go on trial before Kent County Circuit Court Judge Donald Johnston.

After a week long trial that resulted in Harris being found guilty, the judge sentenced the defendant to 20 to 120 months in prison which begins upon the two-year sentence for the firearms charge being completed. According to a news report at Mlive.com, Harris asked the judge to explain the sentence to him once more before being led away by deputies.

Michigan attempted murder attorneys realize the serious impact of a conviction on attempted murder charges. Unfortunately, it appears the defendant in this case was either confused, or fully confident he would win at trial. Either way, if Harris does spend the next 10 years in prison, he will be close to 30 years old before released, a sad and frequent occurrence in today’s society.

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