VBT father, son face drug charges at April 2 preliminary exam

By Diane Madigan
Independent Court Reporter
Van Buren Township residents Dale Kenneth Phifer, 76, and his son Kirkwood Lane Phifer, 24, appeared before Judge Brian Oakley at 34th District Court in Romulus on March 12, for a preliminary exam on drug charges.
The Phifers’ attorney asked to adjourn/postpone the preliminary exam and Judge Oakley rescheduled it for 9 a.m., April 2.
The Assistant Wayne County Prosecutor on the case is Michael Schweyen who is a member of the Major Drugs Unit.
Both of the Phifers were arrested on Nov. 13 in VBT. Dale is charged with delivering/manufacturing 5-45 kilos of marijuana.
Kirkwood is charged with: controlled substance – delivery/manufacture (non-narcotic) (schedules 1, 2 and 3); controlled substance-delivery/manufacture 5-45 kilograms of marijuana; and controlled substance-delivery/manufacture (schedule 4).
The division of the punishments for the crime is done by weight: less than 5 kilograms could get you 4 years in prison, 5-45 kilograms could get you 7 years, and more than 45 kilograms could get you 15 years, according to Legalmatch.com .
The Phifers live at 50345 Bog Road, according to the VBT tax roll.
Brandon Akers
Brandon Akers, 26, from Sumpter Township was scheduled for sentencing on a domestic violence charge to which he pled guilty on Feb. 19, but according to Assistant Wayne County Prosecutor Carrie Butorac, Akers had voluntarily entered into The Salvation Army Substance Abuse program and sentencing would be postponed for three weeks.
Butorac said The Salvation Army told Akers if he left the building he would be kicked out of the program and would need to reapply.