White case adjourned again to wait for additional charges

By Rosemary K. Otzman
Independent Editor
The preliminary exam on five felony charges for disbarred attorney Thomas Andrew White, 46, of Van Buren Township, was set for Nov. 13, but has been adjourned for the third time.
The exam now is scheduled for Dec. 18 at the 34th District Court before Judge Brian A. Oakley.
At the Nov. 20 court session at 34th District Court, White’s criminal defense attorney Michael Vincent said he wanted the exam scheduled for 11 a.m. on Dec. 18 , but the court clerk told him she cannot schedule an exam for any other time than 9 a.m. on another judge’s docket.
Wayne County Assistant Prosecutor Daniel Joseph Williams said there was more evidence coming in other cases about to be filed against White and so he needed another three weeks. He said the banks were not expediting the police search warrants.
Williams said the first case was filed early because it was facing a statute of limitations.
He said there are from 12 to 20 additional victims under investigation and he hoped to get the additional warrants with additional charges around Nov. 27.
Vincent interrupted to say they were “alleged victims.”
When they were discussing a proposed Dec. 11 date for the exam before Judge David Parrott, Vincent said any preliminary examination will be substantial, perhaps two weeks, and he would have to ask for more time if he got the discovery information on Dec. 10.
Judge William Szlinis, who was filling in for Chief 34th District Court Judge Tina Brooks Green, said that would be if the charges were litigated at district court.
Judge Szlinis gave Vincent an extra week, saying Vincent will have a week at least to go over the evidence for the charges.
“We’re likely to have a warrant by then,” Williams said.
Scott Danyl Vanburen
Michael Paul McCombie
A preliminary exam had been set for Nov. 13 for Scott Danyl Vanburen, 21, and Michael Paul McCombie, 23, but Judge Szlinis adjourned the exam to Dec. 18 to give McCombie’s newly retained attorney, Bill Colovos, a chance to review the evidence.
Attorney Michael Vincent has been retained by Vanburen to defend him.
The two are co-defendants on controlled substance charges for delivery / manufacture of methamphetamine / ecstacy.
The alleged offense was July 26 and the charges were filed Oct. 4.
Andrew John Draper
Andrew John Draper, 22, who was charged with possession of narcotics or cocaine less than 25 grams, waived his preliminary exam and Judge Szlinis said to appear at 9 a.m. Nov. 27 at the Frank Murphy Hall of Justice for arraignment on the information. Bryon Kelley is Draper’s attorney and Draper’s $2,000 personal bond was continued. The warrant was filed Aug. 15 for a July 3 alleged offense.
Gerald Michael Jakubik
Gerald Michael Jakubik, 57, accepted a plea agreement, pleading no contest to two counts of retail fraud. His attorney said two other matters were dismissed.
His attorney said he is pleading no contest because of “a lack of knowledge and recall” because he had a stroke and his memory fades.
Jakubik said he had three brain clots and almost lost his life.
The items taken were wrapped in bedding, two tulip stakes and rain gauges, with a value of $25. A second parcel contained a $70 lamp.
The attorney said all the items were seized and returned to the store and no restitution has been requested. He was fined $100 plus $100 court costs, plus additional state charges and he wanted to make payments.
Officer Whitbeck made the arrest.
In a related matter, Jakubik pled guilty on Nov. 6 in circuit court to a delivery / manufacture of marijuana charge from August. He will be sentenced by Judge Margie Braxton on Jan. 8.
Al-Valentino Grant
Al-Valentino Grant, 37, was scheduled for his preliminary exam Nov. 13 on a charge of Criminal Sexual Conduct, 2nd degree – person under 13, but his defense attorney just got the case and he said he needs to watch the prosecution’s video of the alleged victim.
The attorney said Grant had been in a serious auto accident and has had surgeries. Grant was in court walking slowly with the use of a cane. The exam was rescheduled for 9 a.m., Dec. 4, at 34th District Court.
According to court records, the date of the offense was Dec. 10, 2011 and the case was filed May 1, 2012.
Thomas John Strunk
Thomas John Strunk, 42, who was due for a preliminary exam on Nov. 13 on four felony charges, instead had the charges against him dismissed when the complaining witness did not show up for court and was unable to be contacted.
Strunk had been charged with: assault by strangulation, assault with a dangerous weapon (felonious assault), domestic violence, and assault or assault & battery. He also was dubbed an habitual offender.
Court files show seven charges against Strunk since 1991, including controlled substance, felonious assault, breaking & enterings, assaulting a police officer, and four domestic violences. The Offender Tracking Information System shows Strunk had four prison sentences, with him last being released June 6, 2012.
On his latest charge, Strunk had been in jail since Oct. 18 because he couldn’t post the $25,000 cash bond set. He told Judge Szlinis that the alleged victim wrote to him one time while he was in jail, but he did not respond to her.
Judge Szlinis asked if the witness would have felt threatened? Since there was no witness the charges were dismissed without prejudice, meaning they could be reinstated in the future. Van Buren Township Police Det. Ken Toney was the officer in charge.
Strunk was released at the Romulus court and members of his family happily surrounded him as he awaited the paperwork to be completed.