Court Watching: Accused bank robber has preliminary exam moved to March 4

Sergio Luis Bellew, 26, of River Rouge was due for his preliminary exam Jan. 19 at 34th District Court on a charge of bank robbery of the Belleville Chase Bank on April 16.
But the Assistant Wayne County Prosecutor Jane Gillis said Belleville Police Sgt. Todd Schrecengost was present, as were other witnesses, but they were missing the person who was robbed at the bank and she has been MIA for the last few days.
Prosecutor Gillis said the bank people are the problem and the banks want their lawyers involved.
Judge Tina Brooks Green suggested starting the preliminary exam that day and then having a continuance when the main witness could be present.
Bellew’s appointed defense attorney Lillian Diallo pointed out the last time they were at court on this case, they needed one witness who had gone to Florida.
Judge Green offered to start the testimony and then adjourn for the one other witness. They decided, instead, to reset the in-person preliminary exam until March 4.
The original bank robbery charges filed in May were dismissed on Sept. 29 by Judge Lisa Martin on a motion by the defense since a necessary witness in the case was in Florida and could not testify.
The charges were dismissed with prejudice so they could be refiled and they were refiled on Nov. 8.
On Dec. 1, Scot Allen Hall, 35, of Port Huron, the alleged driver of the getaway car, waived his preliminary exam and was bound over to circuit court. He attended the court session virtually from a drug treatment facility.
City of Belleville Police Chief Dave Robinson said at the time of the robbery that the suspect entered the bank and presented a note to the teller demanding money. There was no weapon seen or implied, he said.
Both Bellew and Hall were charged with another bank robbery in Redford Township. Circuit Court Judge Bridget Hathaway was set to hear a motion to dismiss the charge against Bellew on Jan. 24.