Violent Crime

November 9, 2012

Charges Dropped, Then Re-filed Against Man Accused of Slaying in Pandemonium Night Club Bouncer’s Death

In September of this year, 40-year-old Lou Ferrin, a bouncer at Club Pandemonium in Detroit, died after being stabbed in the neck by a male patron he was ejecting from the club. At the time of the murder, the killer remained on the loose and police had no suspects. Ferrin, a father of three, was working at the club to support his family and owned his own security business according to family members.

A few days after the incident, Detroit police arrested 20-year-old LaVelle Dumas, who police say was escorted out of the night club after becoming involved in a fight with other patrons. News reports allege that Dumas produced a knife and proceeded to stab Ferrin in the neck.

On November 1st, Wayne County prosecutors dropped the charges against Dumas due to lack of evidence. The charges were dismissed after 36th District Court Judge Katherine Hansen said that prosecutors failed to show probable cause.

New charges were filed against Dumas just hours later. First-degree murder charges were filed by Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy, whose office said that additional evidence will be presented to prove probable cause in the case against Dumas.

On November 1st when charges against Dumas were dismissed, he was released from jail only to be taken back by Detroit Police a few hours later.

In less than 1 1/2 years, four people have been murdered in connection to the Club Pandemonium. Just this past June, Marcel Jackson, a 38-year-old man working as a bouncer at the club, was fatally shot when he became involved in a dispute with a male patron. His murder has not been solved as of this date.

Michigan murder defense attorneys know that in some instances, innocent individuals face years behind bars and severe punishment for crimes they did not commit. In this case, the judge dismissed the charge because prosecutors could not demonstrate probable cause or present evidence. Cases which lack evidence are tough for prosecutors to prove, and sadly no matter how it turns out, the accused individual will have a cloud of suspicion and doubt hanging over his head unless conclusive evidence can be found that rules him out.

November 2, 2012

Two Teens Arraigned on Felony Murder and Home Invasion Charges in Slaying of Pontiac Man

by Scott Grabel

Oakland County Sheriff’s officials stated in a release on Friday, October 26, that two teens had been arraigned on felony murder and home invasion charges for an incident that left a 27-year-old Pontiac man dead. Donald Lee James, a 16-year-old Lake Orion High School student and 17-year-old Jonathan Hickerson of Pontiac were charged in the slaying of Adrian Contreras.

Apparently, Hickerson was injured in the incident as news reports state that he was being treated at a hospital for a gunshot wound he sustained during the altercation.

Contreras’ home, located in the 800 block of Inglewood Ave. near Cesar Chavez is where the alleged home invasion and killing took place on Monday, October 22 at approximately 3:30 a.m. Contreras died of a gunshot wound to the head according to the Oakland County Medical Examiner’s office, although he also suffered two gunshots to the chest.

The two teens allegedly forced their way into the home, then fired numerous shots; one of the victim’s two brothers who were inside the home returned fire at the intruders. Contreras’ wife and 6-month-old baby were inside the residence, but escaped and hid at a neighbor’s residence nearby.

In all, five people were inside the home when the home invasion occurred; no other injuries were reported. Reports claim that four pit bulls which were inside the Contreras’ home were removed by Oakland County Animal Control officers.

Some media outlets have suggested that Contreras was a target rather than an innocent victim in a home invasion, although the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office release indicates a home invasion. No further details of the incident or motive were revealed in news reports.

Michigan homicide defense attorneys understand the seriousness of charges such as felony murder and home invasion, and the consequences individuals face if convicted.

October 31, 2012

Michigan Man Sentenced in Cocaine Killing in Colorado

by Scott Grabel

Enrique Amaya, a 31-year-old Pontiac man, was sentenced on Monday to life in prison for conspiracy to commit murder by Detroit federal judge Paul Borman. Amaya was found guilty of the charges in June, after allegedly hiring a hit man to kill a man in Colorado so that he could avoid paying a cocaine debt of $400,000.

The judge also sentenced two other men involved in the case, 33-year-old Jesus Medina-Meraz of Sheridan, CO and alleged hit man 30-year-old Franklin Sierra-Rodriguez. Both pleaded guilty to murder conspiracy. Rodriguez was sentenced to 40 years in prison, Meraz to 32 years behind bars.

According to Barbara McQuade, Detroit U.S. Attorney, Amaya received large shipments of cocaine from Colorado. McQuade alleged that Amaya hired Sierra-Rodriguez to kill the Littleton, CO supplier Joaquin Lucero-Carrillo in his apartment in June of 2010.

News reports claim that at the time of the shooting, several witnesses were present. Colorado detectives were led to the metro Detroit area after investigations began, where Amaya’s drug dealings were being investigated by the U.S. DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration). The two agencies then worked in unison to piece together evidence and identify additional suspects. Investigations ultimately revealed that Sierra-Rodriguez had been hired by Amaya and his co-conspirator Medina-Meraz to kill the victim in order to wipe out the $400,000 cocaine debt.

Three other individuals pleaded guilty for their involvement in the murder-for-hire plot, and are awaiting sentencing. The three men were identified in news reports as 24-year-old Jose Alejandro Villalon-Espinoza of Pontiac, 27-year-old Rafael Maravillas, also of Pontiac, and 25-year-old Franklin Baquedano of Waterford.

When an individual is sentenced to life behind bars, his or her life is essentially over. Even being sentenced to many years in prison affects your future, career, relationships – every aspect of your life. A seasoned Michigan murder defense attorney will work aggressively to protect the legal rights and freedom of his client.

October 29, 2012

14-year-old Detroit Boy Charged as Adult in Slaying of Mother, Sentenced to 25-50 Years

by Scott Grabel

On Friday, October 26, 14-year-old Joshua Smith was sentenced to 25-50 years in prison after pleading guilty to charges of second-degree murder in the death of his mother, Tamiko Andrea Robinson, in September. Smith is charged as an adult in the case, and also pleaded guilty to a felony firearm charge. He was originally charged with first-degree murder.

Chiko Lewis, Robinson’s fiancé, testified in March at Smith’s preliminary examination that he heard gunshots as he slept in a back bedroom at Robinson’s home in the 5700 block of Burns on the night of February 27th. Lewis said that after hearing the gunshots, he tucked his 5-year-old daughter under his arm and attempted to escape, at which time he saw 36-year-old Robinson at the foot of the stairs. He said that she was bleeding, and had been struck by bullets. According to Lewis’ testimony earlier in 36th District Court, Robinson was gasping for breath and bleeding profusely.

Lewis claimed that after finding Robinson at the foot of the stairs, he noticed Smith standing above him on the staircase, pointing a shotgun directly at him. He said he started begging for his own life, saying, “please, please, please.”

News reports state that the courtroom was packed with about 50 students from Detroit Country Day, and that as Smith’s family spoke he wiped tears from his face with his T-shirt. Smith’s grandmother, Annie McKenzie, told the judge that Joshua had an insane moment, and that he was a good boy. She said he was not a killer, and that “I lost a daughter. Now I’m losing a grandson as well.”

The shooting allegedly occurred over a fight between Smith and his mother, who had told him not to hang out with boys that she considered to be thugs, or bring girls to her home. According to news reports the gun used in the shooting was Robinson’s fiancé’s, and was kept in a locked home office which Smith allegedly broke in to.

This is an extremely sad situation, and one that Michigan homicide defense attorneys see all too often. A young boy with his entire life ahead of him will now spend most of his life behind bars.

October 25, 2012

I-96 Corridor Shootings: Police Investigation Making Headway

by Scott Grabel

Recently, 22 random shootings have taken place along and near the I-96 corridor in Metro Detroit; as of yet, police have not been able to apprehend the gunman, but have tied seven of the bullet fragments to a single weapon, according to Oakland County Undersheriff Mike McCabe.

Thankfully none of the victims have been injured to date. Even though seven of the (bullet) fragments have been identified as belonging to the same gun, what type of gun that is cannot yet be confirmed due to lack of evidence. Police did recover a 9mm bullet casing in Perry, where a single incident occurred.

On Sunday October 21, a release was issued by the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department listing the vicinities of the shootings that have taken place in Ingham, Livingston, Oakland and Shiawassee counties, and the police/sheriff departments that have been involved in investigations:

Ingham County Sheriff’s Office, 7 incidents
Livingston County Sheriff’s Office, 1 incident
Oakland County Sheriff’s Office (Commerce Township), 2 incidents
Perry Police Department, 1 incident
Shiawassee County Sheriff’s Office, 1 incident
Wixom Police Department, 10 incidents
On Tuesday October 23, the number of incidents was updated to 27 according to a report by the Lansing State Journal.

After the 48-hour barrage of shootings last week, the gunman went silent. Police believe that the shooter is in his 20s or 30s, and that he is randomly firing on both pedestrians and motorists near the Interstate 96 corridor along a span that stretches from Ingham County to Metro Detroit.

Understandably, commuters who travel this route are fearful, and have rerouted their travels. School districts in the area have cancelled outdoor recess and locked down campuses. One victim in Ingham County gave a description of the shooter and his vehicle; police were able to release a sketch of the suspect based on that information, and believe he is driving a 1998 Toyota Camry or 1998 Oldsmobile Alero that is dark in color.

Michigan criminal defense attorneys know that once the suspect is apprehended, he will likely face very serious consequences. Is he a felon with a previous criminal record? What if the bullets that have been fired had struck pedestrians or motorists along the I-96 corridor, perhaps injuring or even killing them?

October 18, 2012

Detroit Cab Driver Fatally Shot; Second to Be Slain in Less Than a Month

by Scott Grabel

On Tuesday October 16th, a Detroit cab driver was shot and killed outside a Mobil gas station located at Conner Street and Harper Avenue on Detroit’s east side; this is the second cab driver to be killed in Detroit in less than 30 days. The alleged victim, Jawan McQueen, was identified by relatives but not named by police. News reports claim that McQueen was parked outside the gas station just after 4 a.m. when he was approached by two men who came from behind the station and began firing at the cab.

Neither of the two suspects have been arrested, but police believe that McQueen may have injured one of the men as he fired back at the two men from the cab before he was shot.

Jermaine Thomas, McQueen’s brother, told news reporters that McQueen, who lived in Roseville, had been driving a cab for less than a year. Three weeks ago another cab driver was killed in Detroit. According to Matt Oddy, manager of Checker Cab, two others have been wounded recently in the course of their job duties. Oddy said that this is a city-wide issue, and a problem that must be addressed.

Cab drivers who are dispatched by Checker Cab Company generally drive their own vehicles, or work for other cab owners. According to spokeswoman Kelly Rossman-McKinney, about 550 southeast Michigan independent drivers are dispatched by the company.

Understandably, cab drivers in the Detroit area have become very nervous due to the recent increase in violence against cabbies. Since McQueen’s death, many Metro Detroit cab drivers have complained that efforts to ensure the safety of drivers by authorities is lacking. In fact, Allen Powell, a Checker Cab driver, said that if drivers park their vehicles on main streets that are well-lit, they are likely to be harassed by police or even ticketed.

McQueen did have a concealed weapons permit, although Checker Cab says that they do not influence those with permits one way or the other when it comes to carrying a firearm on the job.

It is apparent that there is a risk for cab drivers in Detroit, and that the overall crime rate is much higher than anyone would like. However, Michigan criminal defense lawyers know that those convicted for crimes such as homicide or murder face extremely harsh penalties.

October 15, 2012

Detroit Father Found Guilty in Murder of 2-year-old Daughter

by Scott Grabel

On Friday, October 12, 32-year-old D’Andre Lane was found guilty by jurors of first-degree felony murder and child abuse. Lane is accused of killing his 2-year-old daughter, Bianca “Bacon” Jones, in December of 2011 although her body has never been found. Banika Jones, mother of the alleged victim, believes that Bianca is still alive, and that Lane is innocent of the charges against him.

The verdict came about 1 p.m. on Friday following a full day of deliberations. Lane, whose sentencing hearing is scheduled for November 16, intends to appeal according to news reports. Lane faces up to life in prison, the mandatory sentence for first-degree murder.

On December 2, it was alleged by prosecutors that Bianca wet the bed in the middle of the night and that Lane then beat her to death with a tape-wrapped stick, what they would later label a “cudgel.” He disposed of her body the next morning by covering her with a blanket, then taking it to a still undetermined location after delivering another daughter and nephew to their destinations. News reports claim that while the body has not been recovered, cadaver dogs indicated that at one time there had been human remains in Lane’s vehicle.

Lane told what prosecutors believe to be a fabricated story, claiming that he was carjacked and Bianca abducted as he was driving to the girl’s mother’s home to get her some clothes. Lane’s vehicle was found by police approximately 6 blocks away, still running.

According to Assistant Prosecutor Qiana Lillard, the weapon which Lane called a paddle was in her opinion a “cudgel,” a stick designed to be used as a weapon. She claimed that spanking a child to potty train him or her using a weapon made for that purpose is child abuse.

Several witnesses, along with Bianca’s mother, testified that they did not believe Lane killed his daughter, and that he was a caring father regardless of whether he used the stick to discipline his daughter. Banika Jones served from 1999 to 2002 as a chemical operations specialist in the U.S. Army; she claimed that she and Lane used corporal punishment to discipline their daughter, and that it was no one else’s business.

Michigan criminal defense lawyers know it’s often difficult to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt when there is no body; however in this case the defendant was found guilty.

October 9, 2012

Detroit Man Charged in Incident That Injured Beverly Hills Police Officer

by Scott Grabel

On Thursday October 4, an incident began when police responded to reports of a man with a gun at a TGI Fridays restaurant in Southfield. Officers gave chase when the man drove away from the restaurant; the pursuit went on for several miles before the suspect slammed in to a Beverly Hills Public Safety vehicle which was parked as the officer was placing “stop sticks” in the roadway. The officer was injured in the crash.

The high-speed chase eventually led to the arrest of 24-year-old James Bracy of Detroit. He was charged with multiple offenses including fleeing and eluding an officer causing serious bodily injury. Bracy is being held in the Oakland County Jail on a $1 million bond after being arraigned in Southfield District Court on Friday.

According to news reports, police chased the suspect north on Evergreen Road; just north of 13 Mile Road, Bracy lost control of the vehicle and struck a fire hydrant before crashing into the parked vehicle. After crashing into the Beverly Hills police cruiser, the suspect then struck the officer. Police said that the officer was thrown approximately 30 feet after being hit. His identity was not revealed, but officials claim that he is a 10-year veteran of the Beverly Hills Police Department. He was treated for a broken hip, arm, wrist and femur at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak. The suspect was treated for a broken nose at a local hospital prior to being taken into custody.

Bracy faces additional charges of carrying a concealed weapon, operating on a suspended license, possession of a weapon by a felon and possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony (two charges). He was convicted for carrying a concealed weapon in 2010 according to the Michigan Department of Corrections, and was released from prison in October of 2011.

Michigan gun crime attorneys know how serious these charges are, and understand the severe consequences those convicted face. Fleeing and eluding an officer resulting in serious bodily injury is a 10 year felony; the other charges will no doubt mean additional penalties for Bracy if convicted.

October 1, 2012

Two Leslie Men Who Allegedly Robbed Danville Gas Station Facing Multiple Felony Charges

by Scott Grabel

Two Leslie men, 22-year-old Nicholas Christ and 20-year-old Jacob Laraway, were recently booked on multiple felony charges after allegedly robbing a rural Ingham County gas station at gunpoint, according to Ingham County Sheriff’s Office.

The two men allegedly robbed the Dansville Gas Station at 978 Jackson Street early on the morning of September 24th; each of the men were arraigned on Tuesday in Ingham County District Court before Magistrate James Pahl. Both were arraigned on charges of felony firearm, armed robbery and carrying a dangerous weapon with unlawful intent.

According to news reports, the men took food, money and cigarettes after entering the station armed with shotguns. At the time of the alleged robbery, one customer and a clerk were present inside the gas station, but no one was injured.

After the robbery, the customer pursued the two men as they proceeded to the area of Williamston and Ewers roads; the suspects’ vehicle then stopped at which point one of the men got out of the vehicle and brandished a shotgun at the customer. The customer did not continue his pursuit after backing away from the gunman.

The suspects’ vehicle was located in a ditch by a sheriff’s deputy, and was unoccupied. New reports state that the vehicle’s emergency flashers were on near the Williams and Catholic Church roads intersection. A ground search then ensued by a Michigan State Police canine unit and helicopter; the two men were found in a field close to their vehicle, hiding in thick brush according to police.

The defendants are scheduled to for a pretrial hearing on October 2nd, and a preliminary examination on October 4th; bond for each of the men was set at $250,000 cash surety by Pahl.

Michigan criminal defense attorneys understand the serious nature of the offenses these men have been charged with, and the serious implications it will have to their lives if convicted. Individuals convicted on armed robbery charges may face up to life in prison.

September 25, 2012

Chrysler Workers Allegedly Involved in Fatal Stabbing at North Jefferson Assembly Plant

by Scott Grabel

On the rainy Thursday morning of September 20th, a fatal stabbing occurred at the Chrysler North Jefferson Assembly Plant in Detroit. According to news reports, two employees at the plant were involved in an altercation that resulted in the death of one employee. Production was suspended for the remainder of the morning. At that time, a woman headed inside the plant stated that no information had been released to union workers. The altercation happened prior to 8 a.m. As of approximately 10 a.m., no arrests had been made.

One worker at the plant told reporters that days before the stabbing, a fight broke out between a material handler and line worker. According to the employee who did not want to give his name, the situation escalated on the day the stabbing took place, with one employee slitting the other’s throat while he was sitting in the break room. Apparently, the suspect’s wife worked at the Chrysler plant as well, and was the source of the argument. Police said the employee who allegedly stabbed the worker fled the scene immediately.

The two employees were later named; Keith Readus, 43 years old, was allegedly stabbed by Jeff Hunt. News reports state that Hunt later shot himself in his SUV at Belle Isle, committing suicide. Detroit Police Inspector Dwayne Blackmon said that after a brief conversation, Readus was stabbed – and that the stabbing was intentional.

While there is a no weapons policy in place at the plant, no metal detectors are used to ensure employees’ safety. Chrysler Senior Vice President of Manufacturing Scott Garberdeing said that reasonable measures would be taken to ensure the safety of employees who work at the plant. Understandably, workers are extremely distraught, particularly friends of the two employees.

While authorities continued to investigate the motive of the crime, many workers believe the stabbing took place over Hunt’s wife and an alleged 3-way love triangle.