The preliminary exam of Micaiah Carlin Minor, 17, of Canton was set for Sept. 4 before Chief 34th District Court Judge Tina Brooks Green, but his retained attorney David Cripps asked for an independent competency hearing.
This was granted by Judge Brian A. Oakley in Judge Green’s absence.
Minor is charged with second-degree murder in the May 7 death of Van Buren Township resident John Robert McElreath, 64.
It is alleged that Minor, an unlicensed driver, was driving southbound on Belleville Road at a high rate of speed, when he disregarded a red light at Ecorse, crossed over the double-yellow line and drove into northbound traffic, striking the victim in his car. McElreath died from his injuries in the crash.
Minor is free on a tether after posting $50,000/10% bond.
Jeffrey Alan Sanders
The preliminary exam for Jeffrey Alan Sanders, 28, on charges of child abuse 3rd-degree and domestic violence on Aug. 17 in VBT, was adjourned a week by Judge Green so the witness could be present. The exam was re-set for Sept. 11.
Sanders was free after posting $2,000/10% bond. His court-appointed attorney is Whitney Lemelin, who said they were trying to negotiate a resolution. He asked Judge Green to lift the no-contact order with the victims.
Wayne County Assistant Prosecutor Larry King said one victim is the defendant’s four-month-old son and it is alleged the defendant caused a reckless act causing injury on the child’s face, when the two parents were arguing, with the child ending up on the floor.
But Sanders’ other alleged victim, his fiancée and mother of the child, said there is nothing in her statement that said the baby hit the floor.
Judge Green said Child Protective Services has been involved and asked if the prosecution tried to contact the CPS worker on the case. Prosecutor King said he tried to reach the CPS worker three times without success. The fiancée went out to her vehicle in the parking lot and got the phone number she used to reach the worker and King was able to talk to the CPS worker.
King said CPS had no problem with the parents being together, but the problem was the parents being together with the child. Judge Green lifted the no-contact order between the parents, but ruled the defendant cannot be unsupervised with the child. And, the mother cannot supervise those visits.
“It’s their volatility with each other when the child is present,” Judge Green said of the situation. “We’ve got to put the baby’s safety first.”
The child’s mother said a month and a half after the baby was born, she went back to work and Sanders stayed home and took care of their baby. Sanders is also guardian of his 14-year-old sister and a charge against him of domestic violence against the sister had been dropped.
Sanders told Judge Green he has a 10th-grade education, was diagnosed with ADHD, and has a speech impediment. Because of the no-contact order he had been living in his truck.
On Sept. 11 at the preliminary exam set before Judge David Parrott, Sanders’ defense attorney said a plea deal had been reached whereby his client will plead guilty to domestic violence and the child abuse charge would be dropped.
Attorney Lemelin said this was an isolated incident and there was no injury to their son. He said Sanders needs to keep his temper in place.
“He loves her and she loves him,” Lemelin said.
Judge Parrott accepted the plea and sentenced Sanders to the work program and $815 in fees. The case will be under advisement for 12 months and if there is no further problem, it will be removed from his record.
James Michael Bellville
James Michael Bellville, 28, waived his preliminary exam before Judge Parrott and was bound over to circuit court for an arraignment on the information on Sept. 25. He is charged with fleeing police in a vehicle, malicious destruction of property between $1,000 and $20,000, and domestic violence in Sumpter Township on Aug. 16. He is free after posting $100,000/10% bond.
Attorney Whitney Lemelin stood in for Bellville’s court-appointed attorney and asked Judge Parrott to extend the time the tether allows Bellville to leave home. Lemelin said the tether now allows him to leave home for 13 hours a week. He is a mechanic and needs more time to work.
Wayne County Assistant Prosecutor Larry King read what Bellville said to Sumpter Police at the incident: “You’re lucky you got here. I was going to kill her. I have a sledge in my car.”
Lemelin attributed that to intoxication, but Judge Parrott continued the bond and tether.
Devaughn Lee Rolax
Devaughn Lee Rolax, 28, waived his preliminary exam before Judge Parrott and was bound over to circuit court for an arraignment on the information on Sept. 25. He is charged with criminal sexual conduct-2nd degree (relationship) on Dec. 14, 2013 in Van Buren Township. He is free after posting bond of $10,000/10%.
Judge Parrott advised Rolax’s court-appointed attorney James Humphries that his client needs to be tested for sexual transmitted disease and AIDS.
Frederick Aungwa Abunku
Frederick Aungwa Abunku, 26, of Cincinnati, pled no-contest to a new charge of use of a controlled substance and the other four charges against him were dismissed. His retained attorney Rickie Ibe said there is possibility of civil liability and that is why he is pleading no-contest.
Abunku had been charged with possession of narcotic or cocaine less than 25 grams, unlawful use of license plate, operating without security, and no license/multiple licenses in the City of Belleville on Aug. 23. He was free after posting bond of $10,000/10%.
Judge Parrott accepted the plea and said he would do immediate sentencing.
Defense attorney Ibe said his client is remorseful for everything. He said his client’s mother is in the courtroom and she flew in for this court appearance as did he and his client.
Because he lives in Cincinnati, Judge Parrott sentenced him to mail-in probation for six months with $995 in fines and costs. Abunku is allowed to go home to Ohio, but he must use no controlled substances and undergo drug screening.