Court Watching: Judges deal with home invasion, drunk driving, substance abuse

By Diane Madigan
Independent Court Reporter
On May 14, Judge David Parrott was handling all arraignments at the 34th District Court and he arraigned Jeremy David McLaughlin, 25, by video from the Van Buren Township police lockup.
McLaughlin is known as a habitual offender with his first, 2nd-degree home invasion in August 2011. McLaughlin was arraigned May 14 on another 2nd-degree home invasion and stealing jewelry and a computer valued at over $1,000 at 11160 Jackson Road.
Judge Parrott set May 28 for McLaughlin’s preliminary exam. The VBT police department recommended a $5,000 or 10% cash bond which Judge Parrott said was very reasonable considering it was McLaughlin’s second offence.
Judge Brian Oakley was handling other pretrial and preliminary exams on May 14 and Brian Paul Blair, 32, was before him for charges from Van Buren Township police.
Blair was in court for operating while intoxicated-3rd. and driving while license suspended-2nd. His last arrest for operating a vehicle while intoxicated, an OWI-2nd misdemeanor, was one month ago in Romulus and Judge Tina Brooks Green sentenced him to 30 days in jail.
Blair was arrested again on May 3 for OWI-3rd, which is a felony. Blair’s court appointed attorney David Lankford asked Judge Oakley to waive the preliminary exam on the felony, sending the case to circuit court at the Frank Murphy Hall of Justice for a May 28 arraignment on the information.
Judge Oakley continued Blair’s $5,000 or 10% bond.
After dealing with the OWI-3rd felony charge, Judge Oakley told Blair the OWI-2nd misdemeanor case needed to be addressed.
Judge Oakley asked if he wanted to speak with an attorney beforehand and Jeffery Bowdich, court appointed attorney for misdemeanors, was called to the courtroom.
After a short conference Bowdich and Blair requested a couple of days for Blair to get his affairs in order before serving his 30 days on the April case. Judge Oakley agreed, ordering Blair to appear on Monday, May 19, at 9 a.m. to start his jail sentence.
In a plea agreement, Brian Joseph Ensch, 24, pled guilty to attempted possession of controlled substance and guilty to operating while visibly impaired by drugs in Van Buren Township.
Judge Oakley referred Ensch to the probation department for a pre-sentence interview and to set up a sentencing date. Ensch’s conditional personal bond continued with no use of any substances, drugs or alcohol.