Court Watching: Accused murderer Jackson again has conference postponed

By Diane Madigan
Independent Court Reporter
Accused murderer Richard Elmer Jackson, Jr. was brought from the Wayne County Jail to Judge Gregory Bill’s courtroom at the Frank Murphy Hall of Justice on May 29.
He was scheduled for a final conference before his Aug. 7 trial date, but for a second time, the conference was postponed.
Jackson, 49, is charged with premeditated first-degree murder in the stabbing death of his wife Travisteen in their Van Buren Township home on Dec. 17.
Jackson’s court-appointed attorney Mark Procida told Judge Bill he had spoken to the prosecutor’s supervisor, Robert Spada, who said they may have a resolution but was having difficulty making contacts. Another final conference is scheduled for June 9.
Spada was reviewing the case file for Wayne County Assistant Prosecutor Nicole James. The Independent learned James was leaving the prosecutor’s office along with six other prosecutors.
Kirkwood Lane Phifer
Also on May 29, Kirkwood Lane Phifer, 24, of Van Buren Township, stood with his attorney Charles Innis in Judge James Chylinski’s courtroom for sentencing on drug charges at circuit court, Frank Murphy Hall of Justice.
In a plea agreement, Kirkwood Phifer pled guilty as charged to possessing 65 tablets of LSD.
The charge of delivery/manufacturing 5-45 kilos of marijuana was dismissed in the plea agreement.
Kirkwood Phifer and his father Dale Kenneth Phifer, 76, were arrested Nov. 13 at their home on Bog Road, Dale for possession of 83 marijuana plants and Kirkwood for 65 tablets of LSD.
Van Buren Township Detective Donovan McCarthy is the officer in charge of the Phifer cases.
Kirkwood Phifer was sentenced to four months in the Wayne County Jail or $1,800 in fines and costs. Phifer could be released upon payment of the $1,800 which he paid, and was free later that day.
Dale Phifer is scheduled for a final conference in Judge Dana Hathaway’s courtroom on July 7 on the marijuana charges.