Court Watching: Shaun Theron Williams bound over after preliminary exam

By Rosemary K. Otzman
Independent Editor
Shawn Theron Williams was bound over to circuit court on a charge of aggravated assault after his girlfriend reluctantly testified against him at 34th District Court in Romulus on July 9.
Williams was offered a plea bargain by the prosecutor just before the exam was due to begin before District Court Judge David Parrott.
The offer to have Williams plea guilty to a misdemeanor instead of facing a felony charge was rejected by Williams.
Since it was after 12 noon by the time the Williams exam was ready to begin, Judge Parrott said the exam would have to wait until he returned from a meeting he had at 1 p.m. in Detroit. He said court would begin again at 2:30 p.m.
When he returned, Judge Parrott heard the witness and determined Assistant Wayne County Prosecutor Matthew Forrest had proven there was probable cause that a crime was committed in Van Buren Township and that Williams was involved.
Williams’ court-appointed attorney was David Lankford.
The defendant was bound over to the Frank Murphy Hall of Justice for an arraignment on the information at 9 a.m., July 23. His bond was continued at $500 personal recognizance.
Jeffrey M. Chamberlain
Jeffrey M. Chamberlain’s preliminary exam on charges of controlled substance/ delivery of marijuana and possession of narcotics was postponed until July 30 before Judge Parrott.
Chamberlain’s retained attorney Seymor Schwartz told Judge Parrott he needed more time to obtain evidence in the case and his client agreed to waive the 14-day rule for a preliminary exam within that time.
Chamberlain was out after posting 10% of his $5,000 set bond.
VBT Police Detective Donovan McCarthy is the officer in charge of the case.
Olufemi Darren Lambo
Olufemi Darren Lambo, 26, waived his preliminary exam at 34th District Court, so Judge Parrott bound him over to circuit court to face charges of operating while intoxicated – 3rd and driving while license suspended-2nd on June 23.
He is scheduled to appear for an arraignment on the information on July 23 at the Frank Murphy Hall of Justice.
Lambo’s court-appointed attorney Lankford asked for a slight change to all the alcohol and drug tests his client was taking and VBT Detective Ken Toney agreed to the changes, which were then ordered by Judge Parrott.
Lambo is out on bond after posting 10% of $5,000.
Phillip Michael Martin
Phillip Michael Martin, 21, is charged with fleeing a police officer – 3rd degree vehicle code, controlled substance – possession of marijuana, and driving while license suspended.
This allegedly happened on June 24 in VBT. He is out on bond after paying 10% of $10,000.
Martin waived his right to have a preliminary exam and was bound over to circuit court for an arraignment on the information on July 23. VBT Detective Toney is the officer in charge of the case.
Public Defender Lankford told Martin the fleeing and eluding was about 80 feet, and he was charged because of the fence. Lankford told Martin they are sure to reduce the charge downtown.
Dashaun Denzel McGee
The preliminary exam for Dashaun Denzel McGee, 20, was adjourned for one week, to July 16, in district court. McGee is charged with delivery/manufacture of drugs and driving while license suspended.
VBT Det. Sgt. Jeff Gueli is in charge of the case. The crime allegedly happened on May 9 and McGee was arraigned on June 10. He is out on $5,000 personal recognizance bond.
On July 16, McGee and his retained attorney had a plea deal and the original charges were dropped in exchange for him pleading guilty to unlawful use of a controlled substance and no valid license on person. A sentencing date will be set.
Henry Tillmon Taylor
Henry Tillmon Taylor, 24, was due to have his preliminary exam on July 9 at 34th District Court, but waived the exam and was scheduled to be arraigned on the information at circuit court on July 23.
Taylor is charged with fleeing in a vehicle and driving while license suspended-2nd. He was lodged in the Wayne County Jail on $15,000/10% bond.
Taylor’s retained attorney Dave Lyons said his client was intoxicated and he wasn’t thinking straight.
He said Taylor has a July 21 trial before Judge Pope in 14B, Washtenaw County. Lyons said he had a domestic violence charge in 2010, which was dropped. Then it was refiled and he didn’t know. He has a court-appointed attorney for that case, Mark Hamilton, but Lyons said he may be handling both cases.
Lyons said Taylor works for Banfield’s in Ann Arbor, a family owned business, and makes $11 an hour on a 30-hour week. Taylor’s father, Edward Taylor, was present in the courtroom. Lyons said Taylor cannot make 10% of the bond and his mother and father will take responsibility for him. His mother lives in the home with his father.
Judge Parrott said the fleeing and eluding charges indicate he might be a flight risk.
With Assistant Prosecutor Forrest’s approval, Judge Parrott put Taylor on $15,000 personal recognizance bond, meaning no money is involved if he shows up as directed. He also will be put on a tether and released to his parents.
“Do what they say,” Judge Parrott said to Taylor and Taylor said he would.
Belleville officer Matthew Vandeweghe and Cpl. Todd Schrecengost are listed as the officers in charge of the case.
Glen Matthew Warren
Glen Matthew Warren, 44, was due for his preliminary exam on July 9, but he waived the exam through his retained attorney Edward Zelenak and was bound over to circuit court for an arraignment on the information on July 23.
His bond of $15,000/10% was continued. He is charged with operating while intoxicated-3rd on June 5.
VBT officers in charge were listed as Officer Mark King and Det. Toney.
Brandon John Petri
Brandon John Petri, 24, was scheduled for a trial on a domestic violence charge, but his court-appointed attorney Jeffery Bowdich said his client had a trial on the same charge and same victim in a week or so at 34th District Court.
Bowdich suggested to Judge Parrott that in the spirit of judicial economy both trials be held at the same time and everyone involved agreed.
Judge Parrott said the trials would be adjourned until 11 a.m., July 30. Petri’s bond was continued and the no-contact with the victim order continues.
VBT Detective Donovan McCarthy is in charge of the case.
Ruth Chapman
Ruth Chapman of Sumpter Township pled guilty to operating a vehicle while intoxicated – 1st, in exchange for the court dropping the 2nd charge, proposed by the prosecutor.
Judge Parrott asked her what she was drinking on March 7 and she replied, “Two juices.” The judge asked what that was and she said, “25 ounces of flavored beer – 14% alcohol.” The judge said the blood draw showed a hefty .23 alcohol.
Judge Parrott told her she would be back two times: the first day in the probation department and the second time for sentencing. She will have no alcohol or drugs and there will be testing, he said.
She is out on $5,000 personal recognizance bond.