Court Watching: Armed robbery suspect in Holiday Inn hold-up to be in court April 6

Michael Paul Sosa, 29, a resident of Quirk Subdivision in Van Buren Township is in the Wayne County Jail on a charge of armed robbery in the March 4 holdup of the Holiday Inn Express on the North I-94 Service Drive.
He appeared by video before 34th District Court Judge Brian Oakley for his probable cause conference on March 16.
Court attorney David Lankford told the judge that Sosa originally had a court-appointed attorney, but would be retaining another lawyer who would not be ready until the first of April.
Judge Oakley adjourned Sosa’s probable cause conference for three weeks, until April 6.
Lankford said Sosa also has a Michigan Department of Corrections hold on him. Sosa has been labeled a four-time habitual offender and was on parole at the time of the robbery.
He is being held on $100,000 cash bond.
Van Buren Township Police said the armed robbery took place at about 10:40 p.m. March 4 at the Holiday Inn Express, 46194 N. I-94 Service Drive.
Employees of the motel described the suspect as a white male wearing a black coat with hood and a red hat. He was armed with a knife and fled with cash taken from the motel.
Officers located Sosa who was wearing clothing matching the description and found behind another business in the area. An amount of U.S. currency was discovered on him that matched the amount taken in the robbery.
Police said Sosa gave a full confession to detectives as to his role in the robbery.
John Curtis Robertson
John Curtis Robertson, 24, has been charged with unauthorized driving away of a motor vehicle, receiving and concealing the vehicle, assault on a police officer, and obstruction by disguise on March 3. He is being held in the Wayne County Jail on $40,000/10% bond.
Robertson is scheduled to have his preliminary exam at 34th District Court on March 23 before Chief Judge Tina Brooks Green.
The incident started out in Sumpter Township where Robertson worked at an establishment. He is accused of stealing a car from a coworker and driving off with it. He ended up in a ditch in Van Buren Township where he ran off and struggled with police and gave a false name as identification.
VBT Police Lt. Charles Bazzy said the Wayne County Prosecutor’s office combined the Sumpter and VBT offenses into one set for the prosecution.