Michigan Criminal Lawyers Blog

December 11, 2015

Police in Search of Man Suspected of Entering East Lansing Apartment

Yesterday it was announced that Meridian Township Police were in search of a man who entered an apartment at The Lodges Apartments located near MSU’s campus. According to WILX-TV, the man is believed to have walked into an unlocked apartment while the woman who lived there was taking a shower.

The incident occurred on Wednesday evening when the man entered the apartment and waited in the bedroom as the young woman showered. As he waited, the woman’s roommate came home; the suspect then ran off. Police are calling the man a “home invasion suspect,” and believe him to be a while male in his mid-twenties, about 5′ 10″ tall with a medium build and brown hair.

Lieutenant Greg Frenger said the police believe the man had been watching the woman and her apartment, and that he knew she would be alone when he entered. Frenger also believes the woman left the apartment door unlocked, a practice that is all too common in the apartment complex. A neighbor who lives across the hall from where the incident took place said that residents don’t always lock their doors, as many come in and out frequently. Frenger asked that residents be more cautious and aware, but particularly vigilant in locking their doors.

December 10, 2015

Iowa Court of Appeals Upholds Man’s Conviction for Vehicular Homicide

by Scott Grabel

In April of 2014, Dale Lee Varner of Davenport, IA was found guilty of vehicular homicide in an incident that occurred in September of 2012. At his May 2014 sentencing, Varner was given a 10-year sentence which was later suspended by a Scott County District Judge who instead gave Varner three years of probation.

Varner, who was 45 when the accident occurred, allegedly ran over Martin Eason, a 23-year-old man who Varner said made him worried about the safety of himself and his children when Eason ran out into the roadway and began waving his arms as Varner was dropping his children off at the babysitter’s.

According to a news report at Radio Iowa, Varner admitted he “hit the gas” in hopes that Eason would move out of the roadway. Eason didn’t move, and was run over and dragged by the car; he later died from his injuries. While there was a lesser charge on the table, involuntary manslaughter, the jury decided to convict Varner of vehicular homicide, a more serious charge.

December 8, 2015

Downsville Man Faces Drug Charges Following Traffic Stop

by Scott Grabel

Many people find themselves facing charges of drug possession or DUI following a routine traffic stop. This was the case recently when a Downsville, LA man was pulled over for a minor traffic violation on Louisiana 15 at Emerson Road, according to a news report at The News Star.

On Friday, 50-year-old Jimmy L. Hollis Jr. of Downsville was charged with simple possession of marijuana and possession of crack cocaine with intent to distribute after a Union Parish sheriff’s patrol deputy said he detected the odor of burned marijuana coming from inside Hollis’s vehicle. The driver gave the deputy permission to search the pickup truck, which the deputy did.

According to Sheriff Dusty Gates, Hollis dropped a cigarette package and partially smoked joint (marijuana cigarette) to the ground while getting out of his vehicle. When the deputy picked up the cigarette package, two items believed to be crack cocaine rocks were found inside. Hollis told the deputy that he was delivering the crack to a friend after buying it in Monroe.

December 7, 2015

Man Charged with DUI in Connecticut Following Police Chase that Results in Rollover Accident

by Scott Grabel

On Saturday evening December 4, a man was arrested in Waterford following a police chase that led to a rollover accident. Dylon M. Goss, 22, of New London reportedly fled police after he was spotted driving in an erratic manner on Route 1 near Clark Lane. News reports state the incident occurred at about 10 p.m.

Goss allegedly accelerated when Waterford police pulled behind his vehicle in the area of Willetts Avenue. As the chase continued, the vehicle eventually rolled over onto its side. There were four passengers in the vehicle according to news articles, one of whom sustained minor injuries and was transported to a local hospital.

Dylon Goss has been charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, engaging an officer in pursuit, risk of injury to a minor, reckless endangerment, improper turn, operating without a license, and more. He is scheduled to appear in court on December 14th after posting a $500 bond.

December 4, 2015

Two Men Potentially Facing Armed Robbery Charges After Clerk Jots Down License Plate Number

by Scott Grabel

Recently, two men were arrested after they allegedly robbed a female clerk at the Country Store II in Geneva Township. According to a news report at Mlive.com, the woman was robbed at knifepoint on December 2. When the incident was over, she jotted down the license plate number of the suspects’ vehicle.

The robbery occurred at approximately 6 p.m. on Wednesday, when a man entered the store and demanded money from the 36-year-old clerk while wielding a knife. She was not harmed, but did give the man an undisclosed amount of cash before he left the store. She went out to the parking lot and wrote down the license plate of a car she thought was suspect.

After reporting the license plate number to police, officers from Midland and Coleman assisted in locating the two men who were involved, identified them, and arrested them. One of the suspects is a 37-year-old Mount Pleasant man, the other a 19-year-old Midland man. Police said the Bay County Sheriff’s Dept. assisted in arresting the Mount Pleasant man. Both were taken into custody; police have recommended they be charged with armed robbery.

December 3, 2015

Former Petoskey, MI Attorney Pleads Guilty to Filing False Tax Returns, Mail Fraud

by Scott Grabel

In a November 30 Dept. of Justice press release it was announced that former Petoskey attorney Michael Aho Kennedy, 67, had pleaded guilty to one count each of filing false tax returns and mail fraud in connection with an October 2015 indictment. U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Miles, Jr. was joined in the announcement by IRS Criminal Investigation, Special Agent in Charge Jarod J. Koopman.

According to his plea agreement, Kennedy became a trustee for a family friend and long-time client; as her trustee, he eventually defrauded the woman of $1 million by withdrawing money from investment accounts to pay her expenses, but withdrawing more than was needed. The excess money withdrawn from her accounts was transferred to his own law office’s business account, and used to pay Kennedy’s own business and personal expenses.

Eventually, the client’s investment account funds were exhausted, however she was not aware of it due to the fact Kennedy sent fraudulent monthly statements to her that indicated her account was earning interest and stable. At this point, another client who was elderly was defrauded of $114,000 by Kennedy in his efforts to continue paying the initial client’s expenses, and for his own benefit as well.

December 1, 2015

Transient Arrested for Drug Trafficking in Church Parking Lot in Maine

by Scott Grabel

On Saturday November 28, a 33-year-old man was arrested on trafficking and drug sale charges. According to news reports, Robert Saucier, whom Gardiner, ME police list as a transient, was sitting in what they called a “suspicious” vehicle in a church packing lot when they decided to investigate.

Police reportedly discovered more than $2,000 in cash, 8 grams of heroin, 38 grams of crack cocaine, and drug paraphernalia in the vehicle at approximately 9:30 p.m.

Saucier has been charged with one count of sale or use of drug paraphernalia, and two counts of trafficking a scheduled drug. At the time of news reports he was being held on a $2,500 bail at the Kennebec County Jail.

November 30, 2015

On-Duty Dallas Police Officer Has Car Accident, Arrested on Suspicion of DWI

by Scott Grabel

On Saturday afternoon November 28, James Covey, a Dallas police officer who has been with the department for almost 8 years, was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated (DWI) while on duty. According to news reports, two other officers discovered Covey in high water after he became involved in an accident involving only his vehicle.

Covey was reportedly found in South Dallas in the area of 4500 Elsie Faye Heggins Street. According to the Dallas Morning News, Covey staggered out of his car and seemed disoriented when officers inquired as to how he was. He made no statement about how he became involved in the accident according to the warrant. He also wanted to retrieve some of his belongings from his vehicle before being transported to the hospital. An officer at the scene went to get the belongings Covey wanted, and discovered a cup that had an odor of alcohol. At the hospital, officers performed tests that indicated he had consumed alcohol.

Covey was arrested, and has been placed on administrative leave by the department. After posting bond on Sunday, he was released just before 3 p.m.

November 27, 2015

Detroit Teen Facing Murder, Other Charges in Death of 91-year-old Neighbor

by Scott Grabel

On Monday November 23, a man’s body was found in his own burning home in Romulus; he was pronounced dead at the scene. The man was 91-year-old Paul Monchnik, a retired television repairman. According to a news report at the Detroit Free Press, authorities aren’t certain whether Monchnik died due to the fire, or the beating he apparently took before the house was set ablaze. When his body was discovered, Monchnik was not only badly burned, but had suffered a serious head injury as well.

A Detroit teen, 17-year-old George Stewart, has been arrested in the incident and faces charges of first-degree murder, felony murder, and arson. His probable cause hearing is scheduled for December 3, and a preliminary exam has been set for December 10.

Stewart’s grandfather, George Stewart Jr., turned his grandson in to police for questioning, however he said that he hoped and prayed the younger Stewart had nothing to do with the murder. Monchnik was the elder Stewart’s next door neighbor. The grandfather said that until about four days prior to the fire and beating, his grandson had lived in Romulus as well.

November 25, 2015

Oklahoma Man Arrested After Receiving Marijuana Through Mail

by Scott Grabel

On Friday November 20, 30-year-old William Garbe was arrested after alleged receiving marijuana that was shipped to his Yukon residence via the U.S. Postal Service. According to an article at KFOR 4, the package Garbe received weighed almost eight pounds, and contained $100,000 worth of high-grade marijuana grown in California.

Employees at an Oklahoma City mail processing center noticed the package smelled strongly of marijuana; at that point authorities brought in a drug-sniffing dog who alerted positively to the presence of illegal drugs in the package. At that point a search warrant was obtained for Garbe’s Yukon home, the delivery address listed on the parcel.

According to Canadian County Sheriff Randall Edwards, it is believed Garbe is the middle-man in an OK City drug smuggling ring. Edwards said they believe Garbe receives the drugs before delivering them to a street-level drug dealer. When the package was delivered to Garbe’s address, an adult female accepted it; the home was searched and the marijuana found less than an hour later.