Possible alias of accused VBT armed robber may increase penalty

By Diane Madigan
Independent Court Reporter
On Monday, Lincoln Park resident Michael Earl-Chavis Lee, 28, appeared before Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Megan Maher Brennan with his attorney Ronald McDuffie for an arraignment on the information.
Lee is accused of the Oct. 24 armed robbery of the Health Smart Pharmacy on Belleville Road along with a 15-year-old, armed accomplice.
As Lee stood mute in his Wayne County Jail jumpsuit, a not guilty plea was entered on his behalf.
At Lee’s Nov. 6 preliminary exam at 34th District Court, in Romulus, Judge David Parrot continued Lee’s $250,000/10% bond. In Detroit, at the Frank Murphy Hall of Justice, Lee’s attorney requested to return on Thursday for a calendar conference and to re-issue bond but Judge Brennan’s clerk said the DSU referral for a bond re-issue would take a week.
DSU referrals give the defendant another chance to make bail.
Wayne County Assistant Prosecutor Dominic DeGrazia asked to amend the information in the case believing Michael Lee has an alias which would make him a Habitual 4 offender. DeGrazia also said he has had conversations with Lee’s attorney and there is a potential plea agreement on the table.
The offer from the Prosecutor at this time is Lee pleads guilty to Counts 1, 4 and 5 in exchange for dismissing two additional counts of armed robbery.
Count 1 is Armed Robbery, Count 4 is Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, and Count 5 is Weapons, Felony Firearm.
If there’s a guilty plea, Lee will face at least 4 years in prison, just for the firearms.
Because of additional information being entered by the prosecution regarding Lee’s alias, the arraignment on the information was adjourned until Thursday, Dec. 5. A calendar conference will also be held at that time.