Samuel Lee Craft, 31, was bound over to Wayne County Circuit Court for trial after the man he is charged with shooting at Parkwood Apartments testified in a preliminary exam before 34th District Court Judge Tina Brooks Green on Oct. 24.
Craft is charged with assault with intent to murder, assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder, felonious assault, and weapons during an incident at about 8 p.m. on Sept. 29 in Van Buren Township.
He has been held in the Wayne County Jail on $500,000 cash bond since he turned himself in at the Frank Murphy Hall of Justice in Detroit. VBT Police had been searching for him after the shooting, when he left Parkwood and fled to Detroit.
The only witness called by the Assistant Wayne County Prosecutor was James Bryant Harris, Jr., 25, who testified he was shot in his “center mass” just below his heart by Craft. He said the bullet went through his body but left fragments and he was in critical condition and hospitalized for two and a half weeks.
Harris said he was 16 years old when he first knew Craft and he let Craft sleep overnight in his house. He said his fiancee, who is soon to become his wife, is Craft’s first cousin.
He said he got home from work at about 8:05 that night and his fiancee received a call from an aquaintance who occasionally does the hair for her daughters. He said his fiancee didn’t say what the problem was but it seemed urgent.
He accompanied his fiancee to 9222 Parkwood, wearing his concealed pistol for which he has a license. He said he always wears his gun because he was concerned about safety at Parkwood.
He said he knocked on the door. Then he proceded to leave, to walk home, he said. Harris said Craft doesn’t allow the two women to talk.
“There were problems with Craft,” Harris said under cross examination. “I didn’t know he lived there. Sometimes he was there, sometimes not. There were a lot of problems and I was concerned about safety. I always carry my gun. I pulled the gun out after I was shot, wouldn’t you?”
He said he didn’t see Craft come out, but his fiancee called out there was a gun and he turned around and Craft shot him in the chest from around five to ten feet away.
Harris testified he pulled out his gun and ran. He said he was confused. He said he was stopped by police officers who told him to put the gun down. They put him in handcuffs until the situation could be ironed out and then got him treatment for his gunshot wound, he said. He was taken to St. Joseph Mercy Hospital.
When the prosecutor made a motion to bind Craft over for trial, the defense attorney objected to the intent to murder charge, saying intent had to be shown.
“Why didn’t he stand over him and shoot him again, if he intended to kill him?” the attorney asked.
“It’s for a jury to decide,” Judge Green said.
“There is nothing showing he intended to kill,” the attorney insisted and the prosecutor disagreed.
“It’s for a jury to decide,” Judge Green repeated. “If he shot him in the leg, we’d be having a different discussion.”
She bound him over to circuit court for an Oct. 31 arraignment on the information.
The defense attorney asked for the judge to reduce Craft’s bond to $75,000/10% instead of the $500,000 cash bond. He pointed out Craft turned himself in, he has three children, and is gainfully employed.
“The police were chasing him for days,” the prosecutor said.
Judge Green said his case with be turned over to pretrial services at circuit court to consider the bond.
James Franklin Allen
James Franklin Allen, 27, waived his preliminary exam and Judge Green bound him over to circuit court for trial on charges of fleeing police in a vehicle – fourth degree and reckless driving in Van Buren Township on May 17.
He is lodged in the Wayne County Jail on bond of $20,000/10%. His arraignment on the information at circuit court is set for Oct. 31.
Manson Charles Marsh
Judge Green signed a bench warrant for Manson Charles Marsh after he failed to show up for court on Oct. 24 to face a charge of fleeing Van Buren Township police in a vehicle. James Gizicki is his court appointed attorney.
Tracey Denise Curreathers
Tracey Denise Curreathers, 50, waived her preliminary exam on charges of false pretenses between $1,000 and $20,000, check with non-sufficient funds $500 or more, and check with no account, on Jan. 5 in Van Buren Township. Magistrate Lisa Martin bound her over to circuit court for an arraignment on the information on Nov. 7. She is free on $10,000 personal recognizance bond.
Dontao Eugene Cavins
Dontao Eugene Cavins, 17, will hold his preliminary exam before Judge David Parrott on Oct. 31 on a charge of second-degree home invasion in Van Buren Township on Sept. 29. His attorney asked for the bond to be reduced for his client, who is lodged in the Wayne County Jail on $200,000/10% bond.
The defense attorney said Cavins lives with his mother and has been in custody for three weeks. He asked for Magistrate Martin to consider putting him on a tether so he doesn’t get kicked out of school and mess up his probation.
The Assistant Wayne County Prosecutor said on Sept. 19 Cavins was bound over on an unauthorized driving away of an auto charge and had HYDA in another jurisdiction and was to be on a tether.
Magistrate Martin denied the request to lower bond.
Christopher Gregg
Christopher Gregg, 38, waived his preliminary exam on charges of carrying a concealed weapon and driving while license suspended in Van Buren Township on Oct. 10. Magistrate Martin bound him over to circuit court for a Nov. 7 arraignment on the information. He is free after posting bond of $5,000/10%.
James Edward Tanner
James Edward Tanner, 21, will have a preliminary exam on Oct. 31 before Judge Parrott on charges of first-degree home invasion, malicious destruction of a building less than $200, and domestic violence in Van Buren Township on Oct. 11. He is free after posting bond of $10,000/10%.
Timothy James Vanbuhler
Timothy James Vanbuhler, 34, had his probable cause conference adjourned for two weeks. He is charged with assault to do greatly bodily harm less than murder on Aug. 16 in Van Buren Township. He is free after posting bond of $15,000/10%.
Ameer Jacob Makalda
Ameer Jacob Makalda, 19, waived his preliminary exam and Magistrate Martin bound him over to circuit court for an arraignment on the information on Nov. 7. He is charged with assaulting, resisting, obstructing a police officer in Sumpter Township on Sept. 24. He is free after posting bond of $20,000/10%.
Robert Edmund Foster
Robert Edmund Foster, 55, waived his preliminary exam and Magistrate Martin bound him over to circuit court to face charges of stolen property between $1,000 and $20,000 and larceny between $1,000 and $20,000 in the City of Belleville on Sept. 27, 2017. His arraignment on the information is Oct. 31. He is lodged in the Wayne County Jail on bond of $20,000/10%.
His court-appointed attorney Rick Nelson asked for a reduction of bond. He said Foster lives with his sister and receives Social Security. Magistrate Martin sent his case to pretrial services for consideration of bond.
Gregory James Decz
The probable cause conference of Gregory James Decz, 47, was adjourned for three weeks, at the request of his court-appointed attorney. He is charged with operating with a high blood alcohol content, operating while intoxicated-3rd, driving with open container in vehicle, and driving while license suspended in Van Buren Township on Oct. 12. He is free after posting bond of $5,000/10%.
Sean Michael Almond
Sean Michael Almond, 36, is charged with domestic violence in Sumpter Township on Aug. 12. He is scheduled to be before Judge Parrott on Oct. 31 for his preliminary exam. He is lodged on bond of $10,000/10%.
Foley Griffin Thompson
Foley Griffin Thompson, 70, had his probable cause conference adjourned until Nov. 14. He is facing charges of operating while intoxicated causing serious injury, operating with a high blood alcohol content, and driving while license suspended in Sumpter Township on Sept. 16. He is free after posting bond of $5,000/10%.
Chelsea Rae Dennis
Chelsea Rae Dennis, 27, had her probable cause conference adjourned until Nov. 7. She has two charges of possession of narcotic or cocaine on April 15 in the City of Belleville. She is free on $5,000 personal recognizance bond. Her retained attorney is Wade Fink.