Michigan Criminal Lawyers Blog

November 6, 2014

Two Arraigned in October Murder of 76-year-old Plymouth Township Man

On Friday October 31, two individuals were arraigned in the October 27 shooting death of 76-year-old Kenneth LaBita, a longtime Plymouth Township resident. LaBita was found inside his home just east of Haggerty on the evening of the 27th; he had been shot to death, according to police.

A news article at the Detroit Free Press claims that LaBita had lived in the home for approximately 40 years. His body was discovered when officers were dispatched to the home to check on his welfare. LaBita was discovered lying on the floor, a gunshot wound to his head.

In the first days, investigators had no leads in the case. According to Tom Tiderington, Plymouth Township Police Chief, detectives began working around the clock to make progress in the case. Tips from both the public and other law enforcement agencies, along with telephone records, led authorities to one of the suspects, 22-year-old Andrew Nutt of Westland. Another individual, 19-year-old Miriah Pisarski of Wayne, has also been charged in the case. Both are charged with felony murder, first-degree premeditated murder, larceny, and using a gun during a felony.

November 5, 2014

Oklahoma Inmate Given Life Sentence in Stabbing Files Appeal

by Scott Grabel

In February of this year, 23-year-old Ryan Garcia was convicted of first-degree murder in a Lawton courtroom after jurors found him guilty of stabbing an inmate to death in the GEO prison. Garcia allegedly participated in the 2012 beating and stabbing of Sonny Limpy, a 25-year-old inmate at the prison.

In all, there were six inmates who attacked the inmate according to an article at Tulsa World. The attack involved a dispute among gang members. Garcia said that the group of inmates who attacked Limpy intimidated him into participating.

This past July, Garcia was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Garcia has now appealed the conviction and is asking a judge to overturn it based on alleged prosecutorial misconduct. According to Garcia, another inmate who allegedly helped him dispose of the weapon used to attack Limpy was given immunity and leniency by prosecutors in exchange for his testimony in the case.

November 5, 2014

Man Arrested for OUI, More Following Crash in Rochester MA

by Scott Grabel

A Massachusetts man who sustained injury and demolished his pickup truck on Monday November 3 was arrested and is facing numerous charges, according to a news article at The Wanderer.

The accident occurred at about 9 p.m. in Rochester near the intersection of Route 58 and Route 28 when the suspect’s vehicle veered off the roadway and struck a telephone pole, severing it. The pickup then continued on to strike a mailbox and second telephone pole. In all, the pickup traveled about 400 feet before coming to rest and was totaled. The driver was 40-year-old Michael R. Jefferson of Wareham.

Wareham was arrested before being taken to a nearby hospital for medical treatment. Some of the charges he faces include operating an uninsured vehicle, possessing an open container of alcohol, driving on a suspended license, speeding, reckless operation, and operating under the influence of liquor, second offense. Police claim to have found numerous beer cans in the pickup, some of them open.

November 4, 2014

Alabama Man Arrested on Drug Charges Thanks to ‘Man’s Best Friend’

by Scott Grabel

Last week, Prattville, Alabama police executed a drug search warrant at the home of a man suspected of manufacturing methamphetamine. When police went to Edward Melvin Henderson’s home to execute the warrant, he ran into a wooded area behind his home. Authorities were about to give up on the search when they decided to “sic” Henderson’s dog Bo, a husky/pit bull mix, on the suspect.

Bo was seemingly excited to have company, and according to a news article at CNN got his owner busted with a happy wag of the tail. Police told Bo to “go get him,” and that’s exactly what Bo did. Henderson was found hiding in tall grass, and was taken into custody without further incident.

Upon searching the property, investigators recovered meth lab components and methamphetamine. The suspect was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, two counts of unlawful manufacture of a controlled substance, and failure to obey police. Relatives have been caring for Bo since the incident.

November 3, 2014

Memphis Crash Leaves Mother of Young Injured Son Facing DUI Charges

by Scott Grabel

Recently, a 29-year-old Memphis woman was charged with DUI following a crash that resulted in injury to her young son. According to a news report at WMC Action News 5, Kenyatta Reed-Ferguson crashed into two fences after losing control of her vehicle as she was driving eastbound on Interstate 240.

Officers arrived at the scene and found the woman was attempting to start the car. It was at this point that officers noticed a strong odor of alcohol. Officers found her son in the back seat of the vehicle, laying face down after the woman told them her son was in the car. There was no child safety seat in the vehicle, according to police. Reed-Ferguson was charged with reckless driving, violation of child restraint, child endangerment, and DUI, her second in three years. Reed-Ferguson was charged with DUI in June of 2011 after she was pulled over by police for not wearing a seat belt.

Reed-Ferguson told police that she swerved when another car in front of her swerved; she then lost control of the vehicle. Police asked her if she had been drinking, to which she replied that she had drank a beer at the location where she had been before she got on the road. She refused a blood draw at the scene of the accident, however police said she could not walk and that they had to help her to the squad car. She was taken to jail.

October 31, 2014

Santa Ana Man Drives on Suspended License, Causes Crash That Leaves One Dead and Five Injured

by Scott Grabel

On the evening of Saturday October 25, 23-year-old Herbert Granados Calderon of Santa Ana was driving southbound and allegedly ran a red light, resulting in a tragic accident. As Calderon went through the red light at Central Avenue and Bristol Street, he broadsided a Honda which caused the Honda to collide with a pickup truck. One person was left dead and five were injured, according to a news article at KTLA 5.

18-year-old Robert Rubio, a passenger in the Honda, was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. Two other passengers in the Honda as well as Calderon and three of his passengers were injured. Passengers of Calderon’s vehicle sustained only minor injuries.

It was found by police that Calderon was driving with a suspended license; he was also arrested on charges of DUI and vehicular manslaughter. Calderon’s license had been suspended previously for DUI, according to a Santa Ana Police Department news release.

October 30, 2014

Halloween Safety Tips for Michigan Trick-or-Treaters and Motorists

by Scott Grabel

Halloween was once upon a time a safe holiday; today, the dangers lurk around every corner. Whether you’re a parent whose children will be out and about this Halloween Friday, or a motorist who wants to avoid a potentially tragic accident, we have a few safety tips that we thought you may find useful.

Our unofficial firm mascot, Waldo, wishes everyone a happy and safe Halloween!

For Children and Parents

October 29, 2014

Former Alabama Teacher’s Aide to Appeal Conviction for Sex Abuse

by Scott Grabel

In August of this year, Michael Horton, a former teacher’s aide, was found guilty of first-degree sodomy in a Madison County court. Horton’s attorney asked for a pre-sentencing investigation immediately, as Horton and his family sat in disbelief, looking shocked at the jury’s verdict. Horton allegedly sexually abused a child who was in his care in 2008, and was arrested in 2009.

Although it took the jury two days to come to a decision, that decision was not easily made. According to a news article at WHNT News 19, the jurors told Judge Dennis O’Dell on Friday morning that they could not reach a verdict, that they were “stuck.” The case had been handed over to the jury on Wednesday afternoon. Judge O’Dell told the jurors to continue deliberating, and to do their best and “be fair.”

Horton’s defense lawyers said that the “story” was made up by the alleged victim’s family, and that their client is innocent. It took the case years to finally get to court, as various issues kept coming up. At one time, the victim would not cooperate, then changed course a few days later.

October 29, 2014

Michigan Man Driving John Deere Lawn Mower Arrested for DUI

by Scott Grabel

Recently, a Lawton man was arrested after being pulled over by police for multiple traffic violations while he was driving a John Deere riding lawn mower. The 36-year-old man was pulling a trailer behind the lawn mower as he drove north on CR 657 near 60th Avenue in Antwerp Township, according to news articles at Fox 17. The incident occurred at approximately 9 p.m.

Police pulled the man over because there were no lights or reflective material on the homemade trailer. The man had attached flashlights to the front of the lawn mower as headlights. Upon pulling the lawn mower over, police suspected the man was intoxicated. He was arrested for drunk driving, his third DUI offense.

While this incident is a bit humorous, it could have ended tragically if someone did not see the mower and trailer and crashed into the back of it. At one point, officers noticed an oncoming car and shined their flashlights on the back of the trailer so the oncoming motorist could see it and avoid a collision.

October 28, 2014

Homeless Huntington Beach Man Arrested on Suspicion of Dealing Heroin in Library

by Scott Grabel

Recently, a Huntington Beach area homeless man was arrested after it was suspected he was selling heroin from the Simi Valley Library, according to a news article at the LA Times. Bradley Bates was arrested on suspicion of narcotics for sale after he allegedly posed as a library patron, selling heroin to his customers both in the parking lot, and inside the library.

In a news release, Simi Valley Police said that a narcotics related felony warrant had been issued for Bates’ arrest previously. Upon being taken into custody by authorities, it was discovered that Bates had more than $1,500 on his person in addition to 6 grams of heroin. Police allegedly witnessed Bates dealing heroin to customers inside the library while he was posing as a patron.

Detectives were investigating complaints of drug sales occurring inside the library when they caught Bates in the act.