Court Watching: Four co-defendants face gun charges for Aug. 10 incident in VBT

Four co-defendants are facing preliminary exams on Nov. 28 in 34th District Court on charges of assault with a dangerous weapon and assault and battery in Van Buren Township on Aug. 10.
They were present for their probable cause conferences in court on Nov. 21 by video from the Wayne County Jail where they were all being held on bonds of $20,000/cash or surety.
Officer in charge of the case Detective Dale Harrison said this was the result of a fight in the parking lot at Harbour Club apartments. He said two brothers had an ongoing dispute with another four and it erupted in the parking lot.
Tyler Wade Moran
Co-defendant Tyler Wade Moran, 24, is charged with two counts of felonious assault (assault with a dangerous weapon), two counts of assault and battery, and one count of felony firearm. His court-appointed attorney is Andrew Dimaggio.
Dimaggio asked for a reduction of the bond for his client. He said Moran works in the water and sewer industry, has two children, and this is his first felony charge.
Magistrate Lisa Martin silently read the paperwork on the case and then denied the request, “based on the seriousness of the offense and the seriousness of the charges.”
Preston Lloyd Kochan
Co-defendant Preston Lloyd Kochan, 22, is charged with three counts of felonious assault (assault with a dangerous weapon) and one charge of assault and battery. His court-appointed attorney is Ashraf Al-Awanleh. Family members in the courtroom said Kochan and Moran are brothers.
Michael Thomas Brooks
Co-defendant Michael Thomas Brooks, 25, is charged with two counts of felonious assault (assault with a dangerous weapon) and two counts of assault and battery. His court-appointed attorney is Daniel Bitar.
An attorney standing in for Bitar said this incident happened four months ago and Brooks is working at a roofing company, living with his mother, and supporting a child. Magistrate Martin denied the bond for the same reasons she denied bond for Moran.
Derek Scott Barlow
Co-defendant Derek Scott Barlow, 24, is charged with two counts of felonious assault (assault with a dangerous weapon) and two counts of assault and battery. His court-appointed attorney is Kathleen Tulacz.
Jarell Isah Hill
In other unrelated cases, Jarell Isah Hill, 21, waived his preliminary exam on a case out of Van Buren Township and another one out of the City of Belleville. Magistrate Lisa Martin bound him over to circuit court for an arraignment on the information on Dec. 5.
He is charged with carrying a concealed weapon and possession of marijuana on Feb. 10, 2017 in VBT and carrying a concealed weapon on Nov. 11 in Belleville. He posted bond of $2,000/10% on the VBT charges and $20,000/10% on the Belleville charge. His court appointed attorney is Warren McAlpine.
Maleek Savon Ware-Thomas
At the Nov. 21 court session, 34th District Court Judge David Parrott bound Maleek Savon Ware-Thomas, 23, over to circuit court for a Dec. 5 arraignment on the information. Ware-Thomas is charged with uttering and publishing and is free after posting bond of $10,000/10%. Retained attorney is Todd Perkins.