Wayne County Prosecutor News Updates November 9 - December 31, 2014

8/9/2019 Wayne County Prosecutor News Updates November 9 - December 31, 2014

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KYM L. WORTHY

PROSECUTING AlTORNEY COUNTY OF WAYNE OFFICE OF THE PROSECUTING AlTORNEY

FRANK MURPHY HALL OF JUSTICE1441 ST. ANTOINE STREET

DETROIT, MICHIGAN 48226-2302

Weekly Updates Week of November 9-15, 2014

Two Pages

For Immed iate Release

Contact: Maria Miller

Wayne County Prosecutor's Office

Assistant Prosecuting Attorney

(313) 224-5817 (313) 213-0457

[email protected]

NEWS UPDATES

Monday, November 10, 2014

Taylor Barricaded Gunman Expected to be Arraigned This Afternoon

Taylor barricaded gunman Brett Lambert, 22, of Taylor, is expected to be arraigned this afternoon in connection with a stand-off with the Taylor Police on November 5, 2014 at approximately 11:00 p.m. Lambert has been charged with one count of Manufacture/Possession Incendiary Device with Malicious Intent, twelve counts of Assault with Intent to Commit Murder, twelve counts

Felonious Assault, one count Felony Firearm, two counts of Discharge In or At a Building, one count of Discharge at Emergency/Police Vehicle , one count of Malicious Destruction of Fire or Police Property, two counts of Malicious Destruction of Building, two counts of Malicious Destruction of Personal Property.

Please confirm the arraignment time with the 23rd District Court today. Please contact the Taylor Police Department for a photograph of the defendant.

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

DISTRICT ATTORNEY VANCE ANNOUNCES UP TO $35 MILLION IN FUNDING

TO HELP ELIMINATE RAPE KIT BACKLOG IN CITIES NATIONWIDE

Second In Series Of Transformative Initiatives Funded By Manhattan DA's Office With Asset

Forfeiture Money Secured Through Sanctions Cases

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mailto:[email protected]





CYRUS R. VANCE, JR. ur i.. 111w:· 1 ir,, 11 U1-11101

DISTRICT ATTORNEY - NEW YORK COUNTY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 12, 2014

CONTACT: Emily Tuttle

[email protected]

DISTRICT ATTORNEY VANCE ANNOUNCES UP TO $35 MILLION IN FUNDING

TO HELP ELIMINATE RAPE KIT BACKLOG IN CITIES NATIONWIDE

Second In Series Of Transjormative Initiatives Funded By Manhattan DA 's Office WithAsset Fotfeiture Monry

Secured Through Sanctions Cases

Testing Will Help Solve Cases Local/y And Across The Country

Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr., today announced that he will pledge up to $35

million in funding to eliminate backlogs of untested sexual assault evidence kits, or "rape kits,"

nationwide, generating DNA evidence that will help solve cases in New York City, New York State

and across the country. The District Attorney's Office will allocate funding to analyze untested rape

kits, audit the scope of jurisdictions' backlogs, create data- and information-sharing systems, and

ensure jurisdictions adhere to best practices for the testing and use of rape kit evidence. Jurisdictions

across the country are expected to apply for funding to test their kits for DNA evidence, a crucial

element of prosecutions and investigations, as well as crime prevention, and even exoneration.

The commitment is one in a series of transformative criminal justice investments that the District

Attorney's Office is making with asset forfeiture funds secured through recent sanctions cases,

including BNP Paribas S.A.'s guilty plea. The initiative will be executed with the assistance of

partners, including the Joyful Heart Foundation, which will provide technical assistance and strategic

guidance to advise the District Attorney's Office as it executes the national grant program. Emmy

Award-winning star of Law&Order: Special Victims UnitMariska Hargitay, the Founder and

President of the Joyful Heart Foundation, joined the District Attorney to make the announcement,along with Wayne County (Detroit) Prosecutor Kym L. Worthy and Natasha Alexenko, Founder of

Natasha's Justice Project.

Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr., said: "To have hundreds of thousands of rape kits

untested is unacceptable. Rape victims nationwide deserve to know that the invasive examination

they underwent had a purpose, and the resulting kit was not left to gather dust on a forgotten shelf.

But more than that, DNA evidence, consistently prosecutors' most reliable and cost-effective tool,






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solves crimes across state lines. From California to New York, expanding the DNA databank helps

every jurisdiction across the country seek justice and keep residents safe. The impact of this

investment, which my Office is funding with asset forfeiture money secured through cases involving

banks that violated U.S. sanctions, will be felt across the country.

"I would like to thank our partners in the Joyful Heart Foundation and all advocates who have

helped draw national attention to this issue. I urge other elected officials across the country to help

fund this cause in their own jurisdictions, and join our. call to test each and every rape kit in the

United States."

Mariska Hargitay, Founder and President of the Joyful Heart Foundation, said: "To me, the rape kit

backlog is one of the clearest and most shocking demonstrations of how we regard these crimes in

our society. Testing nipe kits sends a fundamental and crucial message to victi ms of sexual violence:

You matter. What happened to you matters. Your cases mattet. Not testing kits sends the opposite

message. That's why I am so filled with gratiti.1de for the commitment that has been announced

today. This is what progress looks like."

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said: "I have long been an advocate for survivors of sexual assault,

and fought hard for federal funding to help eliminate New York State's DNA backlog. Investments

like today's not only speak to these survivors - telling them that their ordeal has not gone unnoticed

- but enable law enforcement to solve crimes across state lines. I applaud DA Vance's commitment

to hold more dangerous criminals accountable, keep predators off our streets and locked up, and

keep our families safe."

U.S. Senatot Chades E. Schumer said: "To effectively deal with the scourge of rape we must identify

and punish wrongdoers. Step one in that task is eliminating the rape kit backlog, which will put

sexual predators behind bars and prevent future crimes. Thank you to Manhattan DA Vance for

allocating $35 million in funding for this important initiative that will not only help New Yorkers but

also many women across the country."

U.S. Representative Carolyn B. Maloney said: "I applaud District Attorney Cy Vance and the Joyful

Heart Foundation for initiating this program to help eliminate the persistent DNA rape kit analysis

backlog. I wrote the Debbie Smith Act to direct hundreds of millions of federal dollars for DNA

analysis, and we've put countless rapists behind bars as a result. This new program will complement

that effort and provide the additional resources needed to ensure that no kit goes untested. I will

continue working in Congress to deliver full funding for DNA analysis so that we can not only

entirely eliminate the current testing backlog, but also ensure that no such backlog is allowed to

occur again."

Wayne County (Detroit) Prosecutor Kym L. Worthy said: "The impact that this is going to have on

the estimated hundreds of thousands of untested rape kits across this country is massive. My fervent hope is that jurisdictions across this country that have untested rape kits will step out of the

shadows, call Cy, and get them tested. Help is here. This is a glorious day for sexual assa,,ult victims

that have been waiting for justice."

Natasha Alexenko, Founder of Natasha's Justice Project, said: "The man that raped and robbed me

at gunpoint is now behind bars where he is no longer a public threat thanks to the determination

and dedication shown by District Attorney Cy Vance and his unrelenting team in New York County.



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Tackling the Backlogacrossthe Country

The Joyful Heart Foundation estimates that hundreds of thousands of rape kits are currently sitting

untested in police storage facilities and crime laboratories across the country. Exact numbers are

impossible to glean because many jurisdictions have no system for tracking or counting the rape kits

in their custody. However, a number of cities have begun to count their untested kits, indicating avast number of backlogged kits nationwide. Memphis, Tennessee, for instance, had more than12,000

untested kits, and Cleveland, Ohio, had nearly 4,000 before undertaking efforts to reduce their

backlogs. Currently, Tulsa, Oklahoma, has more than 3,700, and Las Vegas, Nevada, has more than4,000.

Today's commitment is a complement to a proposal pending before the U.S. Congress, which would

allocate $41 million to fund a new program that would provide grants to local communities to

investigate and prosecute these cases, re-engage survivors, and create system-wide reforms to ensure

that a backlog never occurs again.

The Manhattan District Attorney's Office believes that every completed rape kit should be tested

and analyzed for DNA with the victim's consent. This "forklift" approach not only helpscorroborate victim's accounts and identify known attackers, but might also lead to the exoneration

of those who were wrongfully-convicted. The approach, first used more than two decades ago to

systematically eliminate New York City's rape kit backlog, has been replicated by cities like Detroit,

Michigan, with great success.

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: Case Study: Detroit, Michigan

In 2009, the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office discovered more than 11,000 untested rape kits during a tour of an abandoned police warehouse in Detroit. Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy sought and received funding to test a random sample of 400 of

those kits, which generated so many leads that the National Institute of Justice funded the testing of an additional 1,600 kits.

From that initial 2,000-kit sample, there were 473 hits in the national DNA database,including hits linking to crimes committed in 23 other states. The Wayne CountyProsecutor's Office identified 127 potential serial rapists, and obtained 14 convictions.Encouraged by those results, private donors contributed $150,000 to the initiative, and, in 2013, the Michigan State legislature set aside $4 million to test all of Detroit's remaining kits. ,

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Though proposals from jurisdictions in New York State will be the initiative's first priority,

jurisdictions across the country are eligible -and strongly encouraged -to apply for funding from

the District Attorney's Office. Efforts in New York State will include the statewide expansion of New York City's "DNA Hits" database, which allows the City to share information among the

Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, NYPD, and District Attorneys' Offices, connecting crime

scene evidence to offender profiles and other crime scenes.



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Over the coming weeks, the Office and its partners will publish a full set of "best practices" for

collecting, testing, and effectively utilizing DNA found in rape kits, expanding on those developed in

New York City and State over the past two decades, including:

• Performing a full audit of the jurisdiction's untested rape kits,

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Testing each untested kit, or at the minimum, conducting a preliminary pilot program with the

input of the District Attorney's Office,

• Building and enhancing relations between police, prosecutors, and other key stakeholders,

• Adhering to a pre-established timeline and set of parameters and goals, and

• Creating mechanisms for information sharing, including DNA databases and tracking systems.

New York as a M odel

New York City and State have long been leaders in DNA testing, and District Attorney Vance's

initiative will expand on that success by developing best practices for testing, tracking, and utilizing

rape kit evidence for jurisdictions across the country. Between 2000 and 2003, New York City sent

out approximately 17,000 rape kits for testing, creating a model for other large cities to tackle their own backlogs. From those kits, the Manhattan District Attorney's Office was able to file 49

indictments based on DNA cold case hits. Combined, those offenders are now serving more than

900 years in jail. The Office also pioneered efforts to indict the unidentified DNA profiles

developed from these previously-dormant rape kits as "John Does," thereby stopping the clock on

the statute of limitations. The Office indicted 24 of these "John Doe" DNA profiles - 18 of which

are still waiting for a DNA match to enter the system.

Recognizing the importance of DNA evidence, in 2010, District Attorney Vance created the

Forensic Sciences /Cold Case Unit. The Unit, working with the NYPD, is re-examining physical

evidence in cold homicide and rape cases using new forensic techniques, as well as re-interviewing

witnesses. To enhance the amount and quality of available evidence, District Attorney Vance

strongly advocated for the "All Crimes DNA" Bill, signed into law by Governor Andrew M. Cuomoin 2012. Before the passage of the law, DNA was collected from only 48 percent of convicted

offenders. The law now requires DNA samples to be collected from anyone convicted of a felony or

misdemeanor, drastically expanding the State's DNA database.

Funding the Initiative

The funding being allocated by the Manhattan District Attorney's Office is the result of sanctions

cases, including its share of approximately $440 million of the $8.83 billion settlement reached in

June 20] 4 with I3 P Pa.ti bas S.A. (I3 PP) - the largest bank in France - for violating U.S.

sanctions. Inthe guilty plea, BNPP admitted to moving hundreds of millions of dollars through

Manhattan based financial institutions on behalf of primarily Sudanese, Iranian, and Cuban clients.

Today's announcement is the second major allocation of these funds, following last month's

announcement of the $160 tnillion NYPD Mobifav Tni tiative, which will provide NYPD officers

with more than 40,000 mobile devices, including tablet computers and handheld devices that will

streamline law enforcement efforts, increase the safety of New Yorkers and police officers alike, and

ensure fairness within the City's criminal justice system. The District Attorney's Office intends to



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make additional funding announcements in the near future focusing on transformative projects in

cybercrime, mental health, public housing, and domestic violence.

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Additional news available at: www.manhattanda.com Follow us on Twitter and Facebook

New York County District Attorney I 212-335-9400

http://www.manhattanda.com/





KYM L. WORTHY

PROSECUTING ATIORNEY COUNTY OF WAYNE OFFICE OF THE PROSECUTING ATIORNEY

FRANK MURPHY HALL OF JUSTICE

1441 ST. ANTOINE STREET DETROIT, MICHIGAN 48226-2302

Weekly Updates Week of November 16-22, 2014 Three Pages

For Imm ediate Release

Contact: Maria Miller Wayne County Prosecutor's Office

Assistant Prosecuting Attorney (313) 224-5817 (313) 213-0457

[email protected]

NEWS UPDATES

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Reno, Travis and Rich - Defendants charged in connection with the homicide of French street artist Bilal Berreni. The court date is scheduled for Friday, November 21, 2014 at 10:30 a.m. before Judge Wagner.

Evan Reed - The Wayne County Prosecutor's Office appeal of the dismissal of Criminal Sexual Conduct charges at the preliminary examination stage will be heard on November 21, 2014 at 9:00 a.m. before Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Michael Callahan.

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Bassel Saad - Charged in fatal assault of referee during an adult soccer game in Livonia.The case has been transferred to Judge Thomas Cameron for a motion hearing scheduled forFriday, November 21, 2014 at 2:30 p.m.

Adult Designated Juvenile Male, Age 14-

Juvenile charged in connection with the murderof French Street artist Bilal Berreni. He appeared in Juvenile Court today before Judge

Alexis Glendening for a Competency Hearing only. He was found competent to stand trial.The court scheduled a pretrial hearing for Thursday, December 4, 2014 at 9:00 a.m. in theLincoln Hall of Justice.

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Joseph Weekley - Detroit officer tried in the fatal shooting death of Aiyana Stanley-Jones .On October 10, 2014 the court declared a mistrial due to a hung jury, Today the court re-scheduled the pre-trial hearing in the case from November 21, 2014 until December 12, 2014 at

9:00 a.m.

Thursday, November 20, 2014

Detroit Man Charged in Casmere Street Homicide of Mother

Prosecutor Kym L. Worthy has charged John Webster Aubrey, 24 (DOB: 7/31/90) of Detroit, in

connection with the death of his mother. On November 16, 2014 at approximately 10:00 p.m., it isalleged that Aubrey strangled and killed his mother Ellen Aubrey, 57; in their home located in the6000 block of Casmere in Detroit. On November 18, 2014 at approximately 7:40 p.m., Ms.

Aubrey's lifeless body was discovered in her home by Detroit Police officers when they were calledto the location on a wellness check.

The defendant has been charged with First Degree Murder and a 35th District court magistrate is

expected to arraign Aubrey by video today between 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. today. Please contactthe Detroit Police Department for a photograph of the defendant.

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Carlos Love and Dantraz Oliver-McClung - Defendants convicted in connection with asexual assault that occurred in the Jason Manor Apartments in Detroit. Love was sentenced

today to 14 to 30 years on three Criminal Sexual Conduct First Degree charges and five toten years on the four Assault with Intent to Penetrate charges. All of Love's sentences areconcurrent. Oliver McClung will be sentenced today at 2:00 p.m. before Judge James Callahan.

Bassel Saad - Charged in fatal assault of referee during an adult soccer game in Livonia.The case has been transferred to Judge Thomas Cameron for a motion hearing previouslyscheduled for Friday, November 21, 2014 at 2:30 p.m. has been adjourned by the court. Nonew date has been given to the parties at this time.

Friday, November 21, 2014

Lavere Brvant - Defendant in Dearborn Family Dollar Store homicides. The jury was sent to deliberate the case at 2:00 p.m. today before Judge Qiana Lillard.

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Algonac Street Homicide Case - This afternoon we have received a warrant request thatis currently being reviewed.. An arraignment is not expected today.

Evan Reed - Former Tiger baseball player who had two counts of Criminal Sexual Conduct Third Degree dismissed in 36th District Court. Today the appeal brought by the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office was argued by Assistant Prosecutor Ana Quiroz and defense attorney Ben Gonek before by Judge Michael Callahan. Judge Callahan reversed the ruling of the 36th District Court Judge Kenneth King finding that he abused his discretion dismissing the case. Judge Callahan has ordered the case back to Judge King for bind over; no court date has been scheduled at this time. The defense plans to appeal the ruling in the Michigan Court of Appeals.

Carlos Love and Dantraz Oliver-McClung - Defendants convicted in connection with asexual assault that occurred in the Jason Manor Apartments in Detroit. Love and Oliver-Mcclung were both sentenced yesterday to 14 to 30 years on three Criminal Sexual ConductFirst Degree charges and five to 10 years on the four Assault with Intent to Penetrate

charges. All of the sentences are concurrent.

Carlos Love



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KYM L. WORTHY PROSECUTING ATTORNEY COUNTY OF WAYNE OFFICE OF THE PROSECUTING ATTORNEY FRANK MURPHY HALL OF JUSTICE1441 ST. ANTOINE STREET

DETROIT, MICHIGAN 48226-2302

Weekly Updates Week of November 30-December6, 2014

Two Pages




mmill [email protected]

NEWS UPDATES

Monday, December 1, 2014

Detroit Man Charged in Double Homicide on Piedmont Street

Prosecutor Kym L. Worthy has charged Alonzo D. Long, Jr., 22 (DOB: 7/19/92), of Detroit, with two counts of First Degree Murder, one count of Discharge in a Building and one count of FelonyFirearm, in connection with the fatal shooting deaths of Howard Franklin, 72 and his daughter

Catherine J. Franklin, 37, both of Detroit. On November 28, 2014 at approximately 7:30 p.m., it isalleged that the defendant and some other men were removing fixtures at a home owned by Mr.Franklin located on the 15100 block of Piedmont. When the men were confronted by Mr. Franklin,Defendant Long fatally shot the Franklins with a handgun. Long fled the scene and was laterarrested by the Detroit Police Department. The case remains under investigation at this time.

Long is expected to be arraigned this morning at 10:30 a.m. in 361 District Court. Please contact

the Detroit Police Department for a photograph of the defendant.

UPDATE: We have been informed that due to a bomb threat 361 District Court has been

evacuated and the arraignment will not take place this morning. We will send out updatedinformation when it is received from the court.

Long was arraigned and remanded to jail today in 361 District Court. His prelimina'ry examination is

scheduled for December 11, 2014 at 9:00 a.m. Please contact the Detroit Police Department for a

photograph of the defendant.






Alonzo D. Long, Jr.

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Thursday. December 4, 2014

Detroit Man Charged in Shoemaker Apartment Arson

Marvella Lashawn Walker , 27 (DOB 4/26/87), of Detroit will be arraigned at 10:30 a.m. today in35th District court on charges of Arson First Degree, Placing an Offensive Substance with Intent, and Arson Preparation to Burn a Dwelling.

On November 30, 2014 at 7:06 p.m., it is alleged that Walker set fire to a house located in the 9600 block of Shoemaker that caused burning and charring to an apartment building which had 27 occupied units. No one was seriously injured in the fire. The Detroit Fire Department responded and extinguished the fire. The investigation was aided by a surveillance video that captured the suspect setting the fire.

Please contact the Detroit Police Department for a photograph of the defendant.

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KYM L.WORTHY

PROSECUTING ATTORNEY COUNTY OF WAYNE OFFICE OF THE PROSECUTING ATTORNEY

FRANK MURPHY HALL OF JUSTICE


Weekly Updates Week of December 7 -13, 2014 Four Pages




[email protected]

NEWS UPDATES


Two Men Charged in Assault of Detroit Teacher

Cleveland Moore, 29 and Alonzo Griffin, 27, both of Detroit, have each been charged withFelonious Assault and Aggravated Assault for allegedly attacking a 51-year-old substitute teacherat Central High School in Detroit on December 5, 2014 at 1:00 p.m.

The defendants were both arraigned and have a preliminary examination date of December 19,2014 at 9:00 a.m. before Judge Joseph Baltimore. Both defendants received a $25,000/10%bond.

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Woman Charged with Assaulting and Resisting Police Officer

Angel Terri Birch, 33, of Detroit, has been charged with Assault with Intent to Murder, Assault withIntent to do Great Bodily Harm, Felonious Assault and Resting and Obstructing Causing SeriousImpairment, Resisting and Obstructing Causing Injury and two counts of Resisting and Obstructing

the Police.

On December 6, 2014 at approximately 9:40 a.m., Detroit police officers were· dispatched to a

home in the 19300 block of Santa Rosa to investigate a suspicious person. When they went to thelocation, it is alleged that Birch came to the door and failed to comply with the officers and cut one

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of the officers multiple times in the face with a razor blade. The officer was taken to a local hospital and treated for lacerations on his face.

Birch was in court this morning and the court appointed an attorney for her. The arraignment will

resume at 2:30 p.m. in 36th District Court before Magistrate Charles Anderson.

UPDATE: Defendant Birch was arraigned on the warrant today with a $25,000 cash/ surety bond and a preliminary examination scheduled for December 19, 2014 at 9:00 a.m. before Judge Wagner.

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Robert Tyus -Detroit Transit officer charged in the fatal shooting death of Jordan West-Morson, 26 at the time of his death. On May 1, 2013, Tyus and the victim got into an argument that escalated into a fist fight. It is alleged that Tyus pushed the victim causing him to stumble backwards, when

Tyus drew his gun and fired one shot, killing West-Morson. The case was dismissed at trial because the prosecution was unable to proceed. The case was re-issued for charges of Manslaughter and Felony Firearm on December 4, 2014. Today the defendant was arraigned and given a 25,000/10% bond in 36th District Court before Magistrate Charles Anderson. His preliminary examination will be held on December 19, 2014 before Judge Michael Wagner.

Robert Bashara Closing Arguments - The closing arguments have been moved by Judge Vonda Evans until Wednesday, December 10, 2014 at 9:00 a.m.

Tuesday, December 91 2014

Robert Bashara Closing Arguments -Today the parties continue covering jury instructions with thecourt. The closing arguments are scheduled for Wednesday, December 10, 2014 at 9:30 a.m.before Judge Vonda Evans.

Frederick Kyle Young and Felando Hunter - Closing arguments are scheduled tomorrow at9:00 a.m. before Judge Vera Massey Jones in the case where defendants are charged with the July 2012 homicides of Westland teens Jacob Kudla and Jourdan Babbish.



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Felando Hunter

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Darnell Cheatham - The defendant was convicted today for the July 24, 2011 murder ofMariah Smith on Waverly Street in Detroit. The jury convicted him of Second Degree Murder,Felony Murder, Arson of a Dwelling House, Torture, Child Abuse First Degree and Mutilation ofa Dead Body. The sentence is scheduled for January 6, 2015 at 9:00 a.m. before Judge UlyssesBoykin.



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Darnell Cheatham

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Thursday, December 11. 2014

Lavere Bryant - Defendant convicted in the double homicide of two Family Dollar employeesthat occurred on July 15, 2013 on Michigan Avenue in Dearborn. The defendant was sentenced

today to Life in Prison Without Parole on two counts of First Degree Murder and Life in PrisonWithout Parole on two counts of Felony Murder, 37 to 60 years on one count of Armed Robbery,14 to 30 years on one count of Unlawful Imprisonment, four to 10 years one count of Felon inPossession of a Firearm and two years consecutive on one count of Felony Firearm.

Case number 13-007369-01-FH, charged against Bryant for Failure to Comply with Sex OffenderReporting, was dismissed by the prosecution today.

Fredrick Kyle Young and Felando Hunter .,.... Today a jury c::onvicted the defendants as chargedof two counts each of First Degree Murder and Felony Murder, one count each of Torture,

Armed Robbery, Unlawful Imprisonment and Felony Firearm. Fredrick Young was also convicted

of Felon in Possession of a Firearm. They will be sentenced before Judge Vera Massey Jones onJanuary 21, 2015.

Terry Dwayne Catchings - Defendant charged with First Degree Murder and Felony Firearm inthe fatal shooting of a male at East English Village Preparatory Academy. On November 7,2014, a jury convicted Catchings of Felony Firearm and found him not guilty of First DegreeMurder. He was sentenced to two years in the Michigan Department of Corrections on theFelony Firearm charge today before Judge Michael Callahan.



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Terry Dwayne Catchings

Friday, December 12, 2014

Jayru Campbell - We have just been informed that the sentence hearing on the Domestic Violence Assault and Battery charge in 361

District Court scheduled for today has been changed by the court to December 17, 2014.

Father Timothy Kane - We have just been informed by the court that, due to the large volumeof cases up today, Defendant Kane's sentence hearing has been re-scheduled. It will be heardon Monday, December 15, 2014 at 8:30 a.m. before Judge Bruce Morrow.

Joseph Weekley - DPD officer charged in connection with the fatal shooting death of Aiyana Stanley-Jones. On October 10, 2014, the case was declared a mistrial due to a hung jury.Today the case has been set for Pre-Trial Conference on February 27, 2015 and a trial datehas been scheduled for March 30, 2015.

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Detroit Man Charged for Making False Bomb Threat

Jeffrey Allen Turner, 47 (DOB: 7/25/67) of Detroit, has been charged with Threat of Bomb/Harmful

Device. It is alleged that Turner went to the 12th Precinct and made a false bomb report on December 10, 2014 at 6:48 p.m. He is expected to be arraigned this afternoon at 1:00 p.m. according to the police. Please verify this time with the court.

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KYM L.WORTHY

PROSECUTING ATIORNEY COUNTY OF WAYNE OFFICE OF THE PROSECUTING ATIORNEY FRANK MURPHY HALL OF JUSTICE 1441 ST. ANTOINE STREET DETROIT, MICHIGAN 48226-2302

Weekly Updates Week of December 14-20, 2014 Five Pages




[email protected]

NEWS UPDATES

Monday Decem ber 15, 2014

Father Timothy Kane - Roman Catholic priest convicted in fraudulent scheme to steal moneyfrom an Archdiocese of Detroit Charity. He was sentenced today on charges of ContinuingCriminal Enterprise, Using a Computer to Commit a Crime, Uttering and Publishing, Conspiracy toCommit Uttering and Publishing, Embezzlement from a Charitable Institution, Conspiracy toEmbezzle from a Charitable Institution. Although his guidelines were 36 months to 60

months, Judge Bruce Morrow deviated from the guidelines. Kane was sentenced to 12 months inthe Wayne County Jail to be served in the months of December and January for the next fiveyears; and he was also given five years of probation and restitution of $131,400. The defendantwill be turning himself in to report for jail on December 16, 2014.

"This is a most unusual sentence that is below the defendant's guidelines. It is especially troublingconsidering that he was convicted as charged of multiple counts of stealing money from the poor.We will be determining whether we will appeal the case in the next several days," said AssistantProsecutor Maria Miller.






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the morning and they went to a house in the 9300 block of Woodlawn in Detroit where they met Butler. Shortly thereafter, the three men got into a nearby car and it is alleged that Butler handed the complainant a bottle of pills and asked Graham for money. There was a dispute between the men and when Graham would not give the money, it is alleged that Morgan fired a handgun, fatally

striking Graham in the head. Defendants Morgan and Butler fled the scene. Investigation by the Detroit Police Department led to the arrests of the two defendants on December 11, 2014.

Dale Morgan has been charged with First Degree Murder, Felony Murder and Felony Firearm. He was arraigned on Saturday, December 13, 2014 and was remanded to jail. Cortez Butler has been charged with Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Felon in Possession of Ammunition and was arraigned on Saturday, December 13, 2014 and received a bond of $1 million dollars. Both defendants received a preliminary examination date of December 23, 2014 in 361

District court at 1:30 p.m.

Cortez Butler

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Father Timothy Kane - Roman Catholic priest convicted in fraudulent scheme to steal money from an Archdiocese of Detroit Charity. He was sentenced today on charges of Continuing Criminal enterprise, Using a Computer to Commit a Crime, Uttering and Publishing, Conspiracy to Commit Uttering and Publishing Embezzlement from a Charitable Institution, Conspiracy to Embezzle from a Charitable Institution. Although his guidelines were 36 months to 60 months, Judge Bruce Morrow deviated from the guidelines. Kane was sentenced to 12 months in the Wayne County Jail to be served in the months of December and June along with another eight weeks to be

determined by the probation department for the next five years. He was also given five years of probation and restitution of $131,400. The defendant will be turning himself in to report for jail on December 16, 2014.

"This is a most unusual sentence that is below the defendant's guidelines. It is especially troubling considering that he was convicted as charged of multiple counts of stealing money from the poor. We will be determining whether we will appeal the case in the next several days," said Assistant Prosecutor Maria Miller.

Tuesday. December 16, 2014

Robert Bashara-

Grosse Pointe Park defendant charged in the homicide of his wifeJane Bashara. The jury will not resume deliberations today because the defendant has anundisclosed medical issue that will not allow him to be present in court today. When wereceive further information about the schedule from the court updated information will be released.

Robert Bashara - Grosse Pointe Park defendant charged in the homicide of his wifeJane Bashara. The jury will not resume deliberations on Tuesday, December 16, 20.14,because the defendant has an undisclosed medical issue that will not allow him to be present incourt. When we receive further information about the schedule from the court updatedinformation will be released.

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Statement of Kym Worthy on Misleading Warrant Backlog Article*

The headline and the article in the Detroit News today titled "Warrant backlog frees suspects" is misleading. The piece gives the impression that suspects arrested and held by the police in connection with murders, sexual assaults and robberies are being released because the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office does not have adequate staff to charge a case. We prioritize all cases where there is a suspect that has been arrested and they are all reviewed by prosecutors. We have had to return a number of warrants from the Detroit Police Department for further investigation when they have been presented without sufficient evidence to charge the case. In some instances this has caused the Detroit Police Department to release the suspect if the police cannot produce the requested work in a timely fashion. The charging standard that we are held to is beyond a reasonable doubt, and it is crucial to have the witness statements, taped evidence and, in certain cases forensic evidence, before we can responsibly charge a person in a capital

case. Although, I respect Chief Craig, Iam disappointed that he would give quotes that omit these significant facts.

Because we have been short staffed, we have had a backlog of cases presented where the defendant is not-in-custody. I have been very vocal about letting the public know that our lack of staffing has resulted in our not being able to review these warrants to make a charging decision. I wonder why no one was listening to this for the last two years?

*Warrant backlog frees suspects:http://www.detroitnews .com/story/news/local/wayne county/2014/12/15/detroit-warrant-backlog-frees-suspects/20467183/


Robert Bashara - Grosse Pointe Park defendant charged in the homicide of his wifeJane Bashara. The jury will not resume deliberations today because the defendant has anundisclosed medical issue that will not allow him to be present in court. When we receivefurther information about the schedule from the court updated information will be released latertoday.

Jayru Campbell - Cass Tech High football player sentenced by 361 district Court Judge Ruth

Carter to a one-year probation term consecutive to the jail time imposed by Judge Kenny on the probation violation on a case where he assaulted a security officer earlier this year. It was ordered that Campbell be tested for steroid use and the court also suggested and ordered a psychiatric evaluation, anger management classes and entry into a mentoring program run by former Mayor Dave Bing. Mayor Bing was present in the courtroom during the sentence hearing.

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the police were investigating Campbell at a home in the 12600 block of Meyers, it is alleged that heleft the house with an approximately 100 pound bulldog that he unleashed upon a male police

officer while he attempted to flee the scene. and arrest the police. The dog bit the officer causing

an injury. The dog was euthanized on Tuesday, December 16, 2014. The defendant wassubsequently arrested by the police on the same date. He was arraigned in 35th DistrictCourt today and received a bond of $50,000/10% and preliminary examination date of on

December 29, 2014 at 9:00 a.m.

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Robert Bashara - Grosse Pointe Park defendant charged in the homicide of his wife Jane Bashara. The court has informed the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office that the jury will resume deliberations on Thursday, December 18, 2014 at 10:00 a.m.

Thursday, December 18, 2014

Robert Bashara - Grosse Pointe Park defendant charged in the homicide of his wife Jane Bashara. The court has announced that the jury has a verdict in the case that will be announced at 3:00 p.m. today.

Robert Bashara - Grosse Pointe Park defendant convicted as charged in the homicide of hiswife Jane Bashara. See press release attached including a statement from Prosecutor Worthy.The prosecution will conduct interviews once the sentence hearing in the case is completed on

January 15, 2015.

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KYML.WORTHY

PROSECUTING ATIORNEY COUN1Y OF WAYNE OFFICE OF THE PROSECUTING ATIORNEY FRANK MURPHY HALL OF JUSTICE1441 ST. ANTOINE STREET DETROIT, MICHIGAN 48226-2302

Press Release December 18, 2014 Three Pages




; [email protected]

Robert Bashara Convicted As Charged

Today after 12 weeks in trial a jury has convicted Robert Bashara of, Conspiracy to Commit First Degree Murder, Solicitation to Commit Murder, First Degree Murder, Witness Intimidation, and Obstruction of Justice. On April 17, 2013 Prosecutor Kym L. Worthy charged Robert Bashara, 57, formerly of Grosse Pointe Park in connection with the homicide of his wife Jane Bashara, 56, in their marital home located in the 500 block of Middlesex in Grosse Pointe Park. Robert Moran, Chief of Special Investigations and Lisa Lindsey, Lead Assistant Prosecuting Attorney prosecuted

the case. He will be sentenced on before Judge Vonda Evans on January 15, 2015 at 9:00 a.m.

"We applaud the jury's time, attention, and patience during this very lengthy trial. We are extremely pleased with this verdict and hope that it gives the family of Jane Bashara some respite. This three year investigation and prosecution would not have been possible without the extreme dedication of the Wayne County Assistant Prosecutors, Investigators, and Staff; the Federal and State agencies and the Detroit and Grosse Pointe Park Police Departments. May Jane now truly rest in peace," said Prosecutor Worthy.

Background Information

On April 17, 2013 Prosecutor charged Robert Bashara, 55, of Grosse Pointe Park in connection

with the homicide of his wife Jane Bashara, 56, in their marital home located in the 500 block of Middlesex in Grosse Pointe Park. Robert Moran, Chief of Special Investigations and Lisa Lindsey, Lead Assistant Prosecuting Attorney prosecuted the case.

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The investigation into the death of Jane Bashara took approximately one year and three months because of the complexity of the case. Numerous tips were tracked down that lead to important evidence in the case. Multiple cell phone numbers and computers were forensically analyzed. There are approximately 300 witnesses and approximately 5000 pages of documents that are involved in the prosecution's case. The investigation was conducted in Michigan and in Iowa,

Illinois, Florida, Kentucky, Oregon and Texas.

There were 15 agencies that contributed to the investigation of the case: the Grosse Pointe Park Public Safety Department, the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office Criminal Investigation Division, the Detroit Police Department, the Michigan State Police, the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, the Federal Bureau of Investigations, the U.S. Secret Service, the Grosse Pointe City Public Safety Department, the Livonia Police Department; Michigan Department of Corrections, the Roseville Police Department, the Fort Lauderdale Police Department, Kentucky State Police - Lexington, Cook County District Attorney's Office and the Chicago Police Department.

Bob Bashara

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KYM L.WORTHY

PROSECUTING ATIORNEY COUNTY OF WAYNE

OFFICE OF THE PROSECUTING ATIORNEY FRANK MURPHY HALL OF JUSTICE


Weekly Updates Week of December 28 - 31 2014 Two Pages

For Immediate Release



[email protected]

NEWS UPDATES


Detroit Man Arraigned in Fatal Shooting of 16-Year-Old Male on Christmas Day

Today the indictment* against Dwayne Sharper, Jr. (DOB: 9/6/95) of Detroit, was unsealed and he was arraigned on charges of Manslaughter, Felony Firearm and Possession of a Stolen Firearm in connection with the fatal shooting death of Bernard Walker, 16, of Detroit. It is alleged that Sharper

and Walker were in a house in the 4100 block of Virginia Park on December 25, 2014 when Sharper shot Walker while handling a revolver that discharged, striking the teen in the head. Walker died from the wound in a local hospital on December 26, 2014.

The defendant was arraigned in the Frank Murphy Hall of Justice before Judge Cynthia Hathaway today on the manslaughter case. He was also indicted and arraigned in a separate case on charges of Armed Robbery, Felony Firearm, Carrying a Concealed Weapon and Possession of a Stolen Firearm. On December 22, 2014 at 9:15 p.m., it is alleged that Sharper robbed a woman at gunpoint, taking her cash and personal property while she was in the driveway of her home located on Virginia Park. The home was a separate location from the place where Bernard Walker was knled. A docket conference was scheduled for both cases on Wednesday, January 7, 2015 at 8:30

a.m. before Judge Timothy Kenny. Judge Hathaway remanded the defendant until the January ]1h

until a Defendant Screening Unit report could be prepared by the Probation Department for the purpose of accessing bond. Attorney William Winters was appointed to represent the defendant on both cases.

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Man Charged in Fatal Shooting of Nine-Year-Old

Clifton Shortie Jr., 34 (DOB: 6/29/80), of Detroit, has been charged in connection with the fatal shooting of a nine-year-old boy. On December 29, 2014 at 9:30 p.m. at a home in the 11200 Roxbury in Detroit, it is alleged that Shortie left a loaded rifle unsecured in the basement that was found by the victim and some other boys. While playing with the weapon, it discharged killing, the nine-year-old boy.

Shortie, who is the boyfriend of the victim's mother, had left the ho1;1se for a brief time when the incident happened. When he returned and found the boy wounded, he called 911. The boy was taken by Detroit police officers to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Shortie has been charged with Involuntary Manslaughter, Child Abuse Second Degree (failure to secure a loaded weapon) and Felon in Possession of a Firearm. He will be arraigned tomorrow morning in Romulus. Please confirm the time with the court.

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Wayne County Prosecutor News Updates November 9 - December 31, 2014

Documents

Transcript of Wayne County Prosecutor News Updates November 9 - December 31, 2014