Court Watching: Judge Parrott handles variety of drug, alcohol, domestic charges

By Diane Madigan
Independent Court Reporter
On May 7, the following cases from the Van Buren Township, Sumpter Township, and City of Belleville police departments came before 34th District Court Judge David M. Parrott.
Van Buren Township
There was a mix-up in transporting Sara Kay Hand, 21, from Wayne County Jail to Judge Parrott’s courtroom, so Hand did not appear in court.
Representing her for the scheduled preliminary exam was attorney Dured B. Hajji who asked Judge Parrott to waive Hand’s preliminary exam and so the judge waived the exam and sent the case to circuit court on May 14.
[In felony cases a preliminary exam is scheduled so the prosecutor can give evidence to show probable cause that a crime had been committed and that the defendant was involved. If the prosecutor succeeds in proving probable cause, the presiding 34th District Court Judge binds the case over for an arraignment on the information at Wayne County Circuit Court in the Frank Murphy Hall of Justice in Detroit.] Hand has two drug cases that will be arraigned together. In December, Hand did not show up in Circuit Court Judge David Groner’s courtroom for sentencing after pleading guilty to a Nov. 22 charge of possession of a controlled substance less than 25 grams.
On April 8 Hand was charged with possession of a controlled substance less than 50 grams.
Robert Norman Stark, 53, was brought to court for a preliminary exam from the Wayne County Jail on a charge of 1st degree home invasion. There are two co-defendants in this case: Jeremy Allen Sneyd, 27, and Randy Eli Black, 43. Neither of the co-defendants was in court and requests for information from VBT police department on the case have not been answered.
On July 15, 2012 Stark and the two co-defendants were charged with 1st degree home invasion. First-degree home invasion could mean that another person was legally in the home.
Stark is being held on $20,000 or 10% bond. Stark’s legal aid defender James Parker asked to waive the preliminary exam and Judge Parrott bound Stark over for a May 14 arraignment on the information at circuit court.
Parker then asked for a bond reduction, saying Stark is a caregiver to a mother and child. Judge Parrott replied that Stark is a habitual offender.
Parker said Starks’ priors included a 1991 larceny in a building and a 2011 conviction for controlled substance.
Judge Parrott said that first-degree home invasion is a 20-year felony and he was denying a bond reduction at this time. Judge Parrott referred the bond question to pre-trial services.
Steven Lamont Wilson, 44, was brought to court from the Wayne County Jail. He is known as a habitual offender. Wilson is charged with operating while intoxicated-3rd offense and driving while license suspended.
Wilson’s public defender James Parker asked that his client’s preliminary exam be waived and Judge Parrott bound him over to circuit court for an arraignment on the information on May 14.
Public Defender Parker asked for a personal recognizance bond because Wilson’s prior drinking charges were in 2005 and 2007. He said Wilson needed to take care of his apartment.
Judge Parrott denied a personal recognizance (unsecured) bond.
“If these charges are true he has proven to be a danger to the public. $5,000-10% bond is not unreasonable,” Judge Parrott said, adding that if he posted bond, Wilson was not to be released without an alcohol tether.
“He has proven himself to be a danger to the persons in this district – including me,” Judge Parrott continued. “He has had multiple drunk driving offenses, lost his license and drives anyway.
“I’m keeping the $5,000 bond. That’s for the safety of the community.”
Murphy Beckon, 41, was charged with operating while intoxicated-3rd, driving with open intoxicant, possession of marijuana and driving while license suspended-2nd.
Beckon’s attorney Jeffery Maynard asked for a two-week adjournment since he had just received the evidence in the case. The preliminary exam was adjourned until May 21. Judge Parrott continued Beckon’s $50,000 personal recognizance bond.
Deon Lemont Cooper, 39, was charged with driving while license suspended-2nd, possession of controlled substance, and improper transportation of medical marijuana in a vehicle. Cooper’s attorney Thomas Morris asked Judge Parrott to waive Cooper’s preliminary exam. Judge Parrott agreed and sent Cooper downtown for a May 21 arraignment on the information.
Brandon John Petri, who is charged with domestic violence, was in court for a pretrial examination. Judge Parrott told Petri he should speak to an attorney before the trial date is set. Petri said he had posted bond on May 3 and would look into retaining an attorney.
At the request of the victim, Petri’s no-contact order was modified to no assaultive contact. Judge Parrott explained that “assaultive contact” can be intimidation, or yelling or arguing. Judge Parrott adjourned the pretrial exam until May 28.
Mario Lamaar Toney, 43, pled guilty to operating while visibly impaired. Toney was arrested on March 11 in VBT for driving under the influence. Toney’s actual blood alcohol content was measured at .30, with .08 being the legal limit.
Judge Parrott said with that high a blood alcohol count, “You were pushing being dead.”
Judge Parrott noted that Toney got a “wonderful plea deal” and accepted the guilty plea, sending Toney to probation for a pre-sentencing report.
“No prior offenses. That’s what saved you,” Judge Parrott said.
Toney’s $5,000 personal recognizance bond was continued by Judge Parrott and is conditioned upon no consumption of alcohol at all, with random testing.
Sumpter Township
Marcus Lee Shaffer, 19, who was lodged at the Wayne County Jail, is charged with receiving and concealing a stolen vehicle and being under 21 with a measurable blood alcohol level.
Shaffer’s Legal Aid attorney James Parker asked the preliminary exam to be waived and for his client to be sent downtown for an arraignment on the information. Judge Parrott agreed and set May 14 as the date for him to appear in circuit court.
Parker then asked for a modification to Shaffer’s $5,000 or 10% bond for a personal recognizance bond, saying Shaffer has been working with his uncle doing moving and drywall. He also has no prior felony convictions and is eligible for youth offender sentencing.
Judge Parrott denied the modification saying Shafffer had a personal recognizance bond on a prior felony case and did not show up for court.
Belleville
Christopher Bouldes, 40, appeared with his attorney Paul Swanson. In a plea deal, Bouldes pled guilty to possession of marijuana and an amended charge of failure to display a valid license. In return, a charge of driving while license suspended was dismissed.
Bouldes admitted to driving with a suspended license and possession of marijuana on Oct. 27. Swanson said he is too old for this stuff, adding that he is married with children and has had a job for 14 years. He moved to Belleville a year ago for a better environment.
“Sorry this is your welcome,” judge Parrott said.
When Judge Parrott issued Bouldes’ sentence he said probation won’t make a difference with respect to marijuana and ordered 4 days on the work program with fines totaling $915.
April Sherri Sibbitt was before Judge Parrott for a pretrial exam on a child abuse charge. Judge Parrott said two eyewitnesses have come forward to testify that the Belleville Police report was inaccurate.
“You lost your balance,” Judge Parrott said, announcing the People have dismissed the charge without prejudice.
“Without prejudice” means if other facts turn up in the future the same charge could be filed.