Articles Posted in Violent Crime

17-year-old Eric Ortega of Park Township was recently arrested on attempted murder charges. On December 17, Ortega was arraigned on charges of assault with intent to murder in the stabbing of his 32-year-old roommate, whose name was not mentioned in news reports. Ortega allegedly stabbed the victim in their Ottawa County apartment. His arraignment was before Judge Susan Jonas in Holland District Court, who set Ortega’s bond at $750,000. The altercation took place on Friday evening, December 14, at approximately 11:30 p.m.

Following an argument inside the apartment, the victim was repeatedly stabbed in the neck and chest area, suffering life-threatening injuries according to news sources. Lt. Mark Bennett of the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Department stated that the victim was at Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital, where he was said to be in critical condition. He was initially taken by ambulance to Holland Hospital, and later airlifted to Spectrum. Another roommate of the two men who attempted to stop the attack sustained minor injuries as well.

Ortega fled before deputies arrived at the scene of the stabbing, and was located the next morning at a relative’s home; he is being charged as an adult according to the Holland Sentinel.

Michigan assault with intent to commit murder lawyers know that because Ortega is charged as an adult, he will face severe penalties if convicted. Those convicted of attempted murder may face any number of years in prison, or even life behind bars according to the Michigan Penal Code 750.83. It is a tragedy when an individual of such a young age is sentenced to a lifetime in prison. While it is not true in every situation, individuals are often charged with serious crimes when they were acting in self defense.

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Reginald Brown, 25 years old, and Jeremy Brown, 20, were found guilty on Monday of the brutal kidnap and murders of two Hamtramck women, 18-year-old Abreeya Brown and 22-year-old Ashley Conaway. The two men are not related to Abreeya Brown. Two other men were allegedly involved in the kidnapping and murder plot; they are awaiting a decision from a separate jury.

The two Brown men, who are cousins, were found guilty of first-degree murder, and were also convicted on charges of unlawful imprisonment, felony murder, and torture. News reports state that both will be sentenced to life in prison. Reginald Brown was also convicted on a felony weapons charge.

The two other men believed to be involved in the plot include 25-year-old Christopher Lee and 27-year-old Brandon Cain, who is Conaway’s ex-boyfriend and believed to be the mastermind behind the plot.

Brown and Conaway’s bodies were discovered on March 25 of this year; they had been buried in shallow graves.

After being abducted, which prosecutors believe occurred in front of Conaway’s stepfather’s home, the two women, who were said to have been stuffed into a car trunk, were able to text family members alerting them that Brandon Cain had kidnapped them. Prior to the alleged kidnapping and murders, Cain had been charged with shooting at the girls along with Christopher Lee in early February. The two allegedly shot at the girls to keep them from leaving a gathering. Police suspect that the kidnapping and murder plot was devised to quiet the potential witnesses about the shooting.

News reports state that Conaway and Abreeya Brown were offered $5,000 by Cain not to testify against him regarding the shootings; when they rejected the offer, he then offered two of the four suspected killers the $5,000 to commit the kidnapping/murders of the two victims.

Michigan criminal defense attorneys realize the impact of a conviction on first-degree murder charges. These young men will likely now spend the rest of their lives behind bars for the crimes they allegedly committed.

The loss of these two young women is certainly tragic, and devastating for their friends and family; however, there are occasions when people are wrongly convicted, and spend time in prison for crimes they did not commit.

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Bob Bashara, a 54-year-old Grosse Pointe Park man, has been the central figure in a twisted murder plot since the first of this year, after his wife Jane was killed and Bashara’s handyman accused of killing her. Now, Bashara has been sentenced to 80 months to 20 years in prison by Judge Bruce Morrow for soliciting a hit on Joseph Gentz, his former handyman. Allegedly, Bashara wanted to get rid of the “witness” whom he hired to kill his wife in January.

Joseph Gentz appeared at Bashara’s sentencing, and although he was not in handcuffs, he has been charged with strangling Jane Bashara to death on January 25th. He remains in police custody, and claims that Bashara threatened him with the Mafia. Susan Reed, Gentz’s attorney, read a statement from her client in the courtroom which stated, “He told me he had friends in the Mafia and would have me killed. I was afraid for my life because he told me he could get me anywhere.”

Bashara pleaded guilty to solicitation in a plea deal, and said that the reason he denied guilt in the beginning was because he feared being abandoned by family and friends, and did not want to lose the respect of the community. Bashara is a philanthropist who had worked to care for the needy, collecting clothing, food, books and other supplies. Bashara pleaded for leniency, saying that he had made a promise to his grandfather that he would care for his mother in her later years. Assistant Prosecutor Robert Moran argued for an 85 month sentence, saying that Bashara was living a dual life and was the one “who decided to hire a hit man to kill someone.”

News reports claim that Bashara’s marriage was far from being happy, and that a neighbor of the Hard Luck Lounge on Mack reportedly saw Bob Bashara and others dressed in dark clothing visiting a basement thought to be a S & M sex dungeon by some. While the handyman (Gentz) is facing first-degree murder charges, Bob Bashara remains a person of interest in his wife’s death; police found her strangled body in an SUV several miles from her upscale home, in a Detroit alley.

Michigan criminal defense attorneys know that charges of solicitation are quite different from other criminal charges, and typically apply to serious felony crimes. Because of the complexity of the laws regarding solicitation, it is a must to have a competent, effective attorney.

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On December 4th, Detroit police officers discovered four bodies which were shot to death in a Detroit home. This is unfortunate news, considering that the city’s homicide rate was already higher than last year prior to the four deaths.

According to police, the four bodies found inside the home located in an east-side neighborhood included two men, one woman, and a teenage boy. Police spokeswoman Yvette Walker told reporters that investigators believed the killings were drug-related.

The bodies found inside the home were identified by the Wayne County medical examiner’s office as 22-year-old Janetta Harris, 28-year-old Jason Koester, 34-year-old Dyrelle Davis, and 16-year-old Shawn Bender. All three men were allegedly shot in the head; Harris died of multiple gunshot wounds.

Carla Collins, a woman who lives in the neighborhood, said that when she moved to the area three years ago it was quiet. She said that since that time, a building across the street from her home which was abandoned had become a “dope house.” Collins stated in news reports that in August of this year, a neighborhood watch group known as the Tacoma Street Block Club had been formed by herself and neighbors.

Mayor Dave Bing said that many citizens had complained that it was hard to find police officers on the streets of Detroit; he said that by the end of the winter season, more than a dozen police mini-stations would be opening, and that this was a top priority of the department. Six were open last week, and more are to open in the coming weeks in shopping and recreation centers along with other locations.

News reports state that investigations are ongoing in the death of the four individuals found in the home; no suspects were mentioned.

Michigan homicide defense attorneys know that these types of serious or violent crimes are often linked to drugs. However, those who are accused deserve a fair legal process, and are innocent until proven guilty.

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Brandon Carmack, a 20-year-old Michigan State University student of Saline, was scheduled for a preliminary examination for allegedly assaulting his ex-girlfriend in August of this year. Carmack waived the preliminary exam slated for November 26 at 1:30 p.m., and has now been ordered to stand trial.

News reports state that Carmack allegedly assaulted his ex-girlfriend as well as others, then lied to authorities. Carmack faces multiple charges including two counts of assault and battery, stalking, filing a false police report of a felony and domestic assault and battery. After waiving his preliminary exam, a charge of first-degree home invasion was added.

On August 28, Carmack was reportedly intoxicated when he called his ex-girlfriend during the early morning hours. She was at a gathering of roommates, friends and members of the university’s hockey team according to news reports. Police reports claim that Carmack stormed into the house where the gathering was being held after he demanded to see his ex-girlfriend. He then attempted to choke her after grabbing her neck, at which time men in the home intervened. Some of the men were MSU hockey players; reports allege that Carmack also assaulted some of the men who were present.

When preliminary examinations initially began on November 7, several MSU hockey players and Carmack’s ex-girlfriend testified about his assaultive behavior. Police reports claim that Carmack told the woman he would ruin her reputation.

Carmack alleges that following the assault incident he was stabbed in the head and arm, beaten, and suffered a broken nose. He also claimed that MSU hockey players broke his ribs. His allegations were investigated by East Lansing police. Currently, Carmack is free on a $10,000 cash surety bond.

In Michigan, misdemeanor assault and battery charges which apply to those who are not subject to other criminal penalties leave those convicted facing fines of as much as $500 and up to 93 days in jail. However, Michigan criminal defense attorneys know that in cases like the above where the accused is facing numerous charges including home invasion, the consequences will likely be far worse.

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Lester Chambers, a Harper Woods resident, is facing 27 charges after firing a “hand pump” shotgun at police officers and neighbors’ homes on Friday, November 16. The shooting incident occurred at approximately 2:30 p.m., resulting in several area schools being put on lockdown.

Harper Woods police responded after receiving reports of gun shots from a Lancaster Rd. residence. Reports claimed shots were being fired inside the residence and in the backyard. When police arrived on the scene, Chambers came outside unarmed but refused to be taken into custody. A standoff ensued, lasting for about 1 hour; during this time Chambers allegedly fired at police from inside the home. The shots struck two police vehicles.

Jim Burke, Harper Woods Police Chief, stated that he didn’t recall in his career ever seeing a single suspect face so many charges for a one incident. The standoff ended when Chambers eventually surrendered, after Burke and a female relative of Chambers coaxed him outside while talking to him on a cell phone. He surrendered his weapon and was taken into custody.

Chambers was placed in the Harper Woods Jail where he awaited arraignment on Monday before Harper Woods District Judge Roger J. LaRose. Chambers stated at his arraignment that he lived at the Lancaster residence with his wife and two young children. Following his arraignment, Chambers was taken to the Wayne County Jail and held without bond.

The charges against Chambers include 8 counts of assault with intent to murder, 8 counts of assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder, 8 counts of felonious assault, 1 count of felony firearm, 1 count discharge firearm at an occupied building, and 1 count of malicious destruction of police property. News reports state that Chambers faces a possible life sentence.

Michigan criminal defense attorneys understand that the charges Chambers faces are extremely serious, and that he may very well spend the rest of his life behind bars.

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