Court Watching: Calendar conference set July 3 at circuit court for Billy Ray Patrick

By Rosemary K. Otzman
Independent Editor
A calendar conference has been set for 9 a.m., July 3, before Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Thomas C. Cameron for accused shooter Billy Ray Patrick of Belleville.
The conference is expected to set out the dates for court sessions leading up to a final trial date. Patrick remains in the Wayne County Jail on $500,000/10% bond.
The date for the calendar conference was set during an arraignment on the information June 18 before Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Dana Hathaway at the Frank Murphy Hall of Justice.
Patrick, 22, is charged with shooting Thomas Strunk, 16, in the face with a .22 caliber pistol on May 12 as Strunk stood in his driveway in the 200 block of West Columbia Avenue eating pizza.
The defendant stood mute before Judge Hathaway and a plea of not-guilty was entered by the court.
The charges are: Assault with intent to murder, Assault with intent to great bodily harm less than murder; assault with a dangerous weapon (felonious assault), and felony firearm.
Patrick’s retained attorney is Michael Vincent who has ordered a transcript of the preliminary exam held at 34th District Court on June 11.