Court Watching: Po preliminary exam in delivery / manufacturing drugs set for Oct. 12

The preliminary exam for Nelson Po, 76, of Sumpter Township on a felony charge of delivery/manufacturing drugs on Aug. 16 in Sumpter Township has been adjourned until Oct. 12 at 9 a.m. at 34th District Court in Romulus.
Po was due for his probable cause conference before District Judge Tina Brooks Green on Sept. 28, but she was not in the courtroom when his attorney Ronald Ruark made arrangements for an adjournment on the preliminary exam from Oct. 5 until Oct. 12.
Ruark also asked for a discovery order to be signed by the judge and he got it. This will give him evidence to study from the Sumpter Police Department.
The pretrial on Po’s misdemeanor charge from Van Buren Township was adjourned until Nov. 30. In this case, Po is accused of molesting/disturbing the workers at Atchinson Ford in VBT when he came in to confront employee Don Swinson on Oct. 29, 2015. Swinson is an elected trustee of the Sumpter Township Board of Trustees.
Po has a medical marijuana business on Harris Road in Sumpter Township.
Gobel Dene Ratliff
The probable cause conference for Gobel Dene Ratliff, 72, was adjourned until Oct. 12. He is facing charges of possession of a weapon by a felon, felonious assault, and felony firearm in Sumpter Township on Sept. 14. He is free after posting his $10,000/10% bond. Beth Egerer is the officer in charge of the case.
Grayling Jerome Regains
Grayling Jerome Regains, 56, waived his preliminary exam on charges of fleeing police in a vehicle and retail fraud first degree in Van Buren Township on Sept. 15. He is free after posting $5,000/10% bond. Detective Mark Buxton is the officer in charge of the case.
He is due to be arraigned on the information at the Frank Murphy Hall of Justice in Detroit on Oct. 12.
David James Roberts
David James Roberts, 31, waived his preliminary exam on charges of tampering with an electronic monitoring device in Sumpter Township on Dec. 3, 2015. He will be due at the Frank Murphy Hall of Justice on Oct. 5 to face the charges. He was incarcerated by Circuit Judge Margie Braxton for violation of probation on drug charges and spent 60 days in jail and 60 days in a half-way house. Roberts’ court-appointed attorney David Lankford said Roberts cut his tether off while on probation. Sumpter Police Chief Eric Luke said he had no problem with the personal bond proposed by Judge Green, although he is incarcerated by Judge Braxton and was arraigned on probation violation charges at circuit court on Sept. 29.
Richard Elmer Smith, Jr.
Richard Elmer Smith, Jr., 47, was present for his probable cause conference and is demanding a preliminary exam on Oct 5. He is charged with operating while intoxicated-3rd and driving while license suspended-2nd in Belleville on March 14, 2015. He is free on $10,000 personal recognizance bond. Belleville Officer Jeff Wickham is the officer in charge of the case. Smith’s retained attorney is Michael Vincent.
Linda Ann Fields
Linda Ann Fields, 48, was present for her preliminary exam on three cases of driving while intoxicated and one charge of driving while license suspended, all in Van Buren Township in May and June of 2015. Her attorney Scott Weinberg said she is waiving her preliminary exam on all three cases and will be at the Frank Murphy Hall of Justice on Oct. 12 to face the charges. She is labeled a habitual offender. She is free after posting bond.