Court Updates: Jury trials set Nov. 17 for two accused armed robbers in VBT

By Rosemary K. Otzman
Independent Editor
A jury trial has been set for 9 a.m., Nov. 17 before Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Catherine L. Heise for Devon Lamar Mayes, 21, and Hyo Sang Rogers, 29, who are accused of the July 11 armed robbery of Montroy Market in Van Buren Township.
A final conference on the charges has been scheduled for 9 a.m., Oct. 3, before Judge Heise.
Each defendant is charged with two counts of armed robbery, two counts of assault, and a weapons charge. They were being held in the Wayne County Jail on bonds of $100,000 or 10% each.
But at the arraignment on the information at circuit court on Aug. 20, Mayes’ bond was reduced to $50,000/10%, plus a tether.
Rogers, who witnesses said actually held the gun, had his bond continued as set.
Billy Ray Patrick
Billy Ray Patrick, 22, of Belleville is accused of shooting his friend in the face on May 12 over a dispute over marijuana. His final conference was moved from Aug. 22 to Aug. 28 before Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Cameron. His jury trial is still set for Sept. 8.
Patrick’s official charges are: assault with intent to murder, assault with intent to do great bodily harm, felonious assault, and felony firearms.
Kenneth William Coskie
The final conference for Kenneth William Coskie, 73, accused of first-degree murder and felony firearm in the shooting death of Eric Williams on July 9 in Van Buren Township, was adjourned by Circuit Court Judge Vera Massey Jones to Sept. 12 at the request of the defense.
Coskie is being held in the Wayne County Jail on $1 million cash bond.