Court Watching: VBT police arrest man for strangling, assaulting mother of his children

By Diane Madigan
Independent Court Reporter
Hal Dwayne Hinton, 27, appeared for a preliminary exam in Judge Brian Oakley’s courtroom at the 34th District Court on June 4.
Hinton was arrested by Van Buren Township Police and accused of felony charges he assaulted the mother of his two children by strangulation and assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder.
Hinton’s court-appointed attorney David Lankford asked the court to waive the preliminary exam and schedule an arraignment on the information at Frank Murphy Hall of Justice in Detroit.
Judge Oakley agreed and set a June 18 date for the arraignment on the information. Oakley also agreed to the victim’s request to change the no contact order to, no assaultive contact. Judge Oakley ordered Hinton to maintain no harm, harassment, or confrontation.
A presentence investigation by the probation department was ordered for Eric McKinzie after he pled guilty to possession of marijuana and attempted possession of “speed” on Feb. 21 in VBT. The plea agreement reduced the felony possession of an analog to attempted possession.