Articles Posted in Violent Crime

In December of 2012, 46-year-old Donna Turner was arrested and charged with one count of open murder after allegedly stabbing her boyfriend to death. Keith Walton died of a stab wound which severed his femoral artery as he was attempting to leave the Ypsilanti apartment the couple shared, according to a news article at Annarbor.com.

Now, Turner is scheduled to go on trial for the murder on October 7 in front of Washtenaw County Trial Court Judge David Swartz.

The two had been arguing according to police. Prosecutors allege that Turner walked from the living room into the kitchen when the victim grabbed his coat to go to a friend’s home where it was planned he and a friend would have a few drinks and watch a movie. As he walked past Turner, she allegedly stabbed him with a large kitchen knife. An ambulance arrived on the scene and transported Walton, who was 45, to St. Joseph Mercy Hospital where he succumbed to his injury a short time later.

Detective Sgt. Thomas Eberts said there was no evidence to support a physical altercation had occurred prior to the stabbing, and that Turner did not indicate she was being assaulted by the victim. Dianna Collins, Washtenaw County Assistant Prosecutor, called the incident as “unprovoked stabbing.”

Turner has been held without bond since her arrest in the Washtenaw County Jail. If convicted, she faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.

Michigan homicide defense attorneys know that open or first-degree murder is the most serious charge an individual may face. These cases are highly complex; without the legal support and guidance of a seasoned lawyer, defendant’s are likely to spend the remainder of their lives behind bars.

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On September 2, 28-year-old Maria Milam of Lawton was arrested after allegedly forcing her way into a Dowagiac home, assaulting the man who lived there, and taking a child. Authorities received a call from the man, who told officers about what had happened.

According to a news release, director of the Dowagiac Public Safety Department Steve Grinnewald said that officers were informed of the incident at around 10 p.m. The man lives in the 500 block of Hill Street, and claimed that a woman had forced her way into his home, taking a small child. Apparently the man described the vehicle the woman left in to officers, who located it a short time later and conducted a traffic stop near Dewey Street on Colby. Milam was arrested and charged with home invasion, domestic violence, and driving on a suspended license.

It was revealed in a later news article at Mlive.com that the child belonged to both the alleged victim and Milam, although the two do not live together according to police. Police continue to investigate, and the unharmed child was returned to the home. Milam was arraigned in Cass County District Court on Tuesday September 3, and is being held on a $5,000 bond at the Cass County Jail.

As experienced Michigan home invasion defense lawyers know, breaking and entering could leave an accused individual facing serious criminal penalties. A felony offense, anyone who uses force to enter a home or building may be convicted of this crime. Even accessing a home through a partially open window or door may be considered home invasion. Depending upon whether the defendant in this case was charged with first-, second-, or third-degree home invasion, penalties range from any number of years in prison to up to 20 years in prison along with fines of as much as $5,000.

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On Monday August 26, 2-year-old Damian R. Sutton was pronounced dead by doctors the day following surgery to relieve pressure from brain swelling. Doctor’s removed a portion of the toddler’s skull to accomplish this. However, it was determined by medical examiners that the toddler was murdered, his injuries caused by blunt force trauma.

Ronald A. Dimambro, 26 was charged on Wednesday August 28 with first-degree felony murder. Dimambro was the boyfriend of the toddler’s mother. Prior to Damian’s death, Dimambro gave police different versions of the events that led to his arrest for first-degree child abuse.

Dimambro eventually admitted to police that he shook Damian; however, before this admission, he told 911 operators that he suspected Damian had suffered an asthma attack. Later, he told police that the toddler fell from his crib and suffered the injury. Dimambro was with the toddler while Nikki Sutton, Damian’s mother, was working. He was babysitting the boy for his girlfriend.

Damian was hospitalized on Wednesday August 21 and said to be in critical condition.

Michigan homicide defense lawyers know that if convicted, Dimambro will face life-changing consequences. First-degree murder is a crime punishable by life in prison. Murder and homicide offenses are some of the most serious an individual can be accused of. It is critical that whether guilty or innocent, capable and aggressive legal representation is sought.

In order for prosecutors to secure a conviction for first-degree murder, there are certain elements that must be proven such as premeditation. A competent attorney will thoroughly analyze the specifics of your case to determine the most effective defense strategy for securing positive results. An arrest does not always lead to a conviction; you are innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

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On Friday August 23, 20-year-old Jeanette Moore pleaded guilty to the fatal stabbing of her boyfriend in December of 2012. Moore allegedly stabbed the victim in the Comstock Township apartment the two shared, killing him.

Moore attended a hearing on Friday in Kalamazoo County Circuit Court in front of Judge Alexander C. Lipsey. She agreed to a plea deal in which upon pleading guilty to manslaughter, one charge of second-degree murder would be dismissed at her September 16 sentencing.

Moore pleaded guilty to stabbing 25-year-old Marcus Mahone on December 18, 2012 at the Comstock Village Apartments where the two lived. She was initially charged with one count of manslaughter, and one count of second-degree murder. The two had apparently been involved a dispute which ended with Mahone being stabbed. The defendant allegedly went to a neighbor’s apartment following the altercation and told the neighbor she had stabbed Mahone.

Latoya Martin, the defendant’s mother, stated that she believed the fatal stabbing was an act of self defense. Martin said that her daughter had told her in prior conversations that Mahone was jealous. She also said that she had talked with neighbors at the apartment complex, who told her that Mahone had been inside the apartment on the morning of the fatal stabbing, fighting with her daughter. Martin contends that her daughter ran to neighbors for help, then headed back to the apartment when she thought Mahone had left. Upon her return, she found Mahone was still in the apartment, and the fight continued.

Moore remains in the Kalamazoo county Jail on a $150,000 cash/surety bond according to a news article at Mlive.com. Court documents indicate prosecutors will recommend Moore be sentenced to three to 15 years for manslaughter.

Michigan manslaughter defense attorneys realize the tragedy of the situation when a young person faces prison time for a violent crime. Was Moore acting in self defense, as her mother said? Regardless, serving time in prison can ruin lives, reputations, and careers.

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On Monday August 19, 17-year-old Elliott Coates turned himself in to police according to a news article at The Herald Palladium. Coates had been wanted in connection with the July shooting of two teen boys in Broadway Park.

Coates, who is a resident of Benton Harbor, had been hiding out by running from one city to another in Michigan; he also went to Milwaukee, WI according to Benton Harbor’s deputy director of police services’ Dan McGinnis. McGinnis stated that Coates was “feeling the pressure” of the manhunt being conducted across the two states, which resulted in his surrendering to police.

Coates is accused of shooting two teenage boys in late July in Broadway Park, one of the victims 16 years old, the other 17 years old. The names of the alleged victims have not been released due to the fact they are juveniles, according to McGinnis. News reports indicate that the shooting occurred late in the afternoon on July 31, and that one of the victims was shot in the arm, the other in the stomach. Both boys were transported to an area hospital and were released. It is also believed that Coates may have fired at a third individual and missed.

Berrien County Prosecutor Michael Sepic authorized criminal charges against Coates in early August. He is currently being held in the Berrien County jail while he awaits arraignment on one count of carrying a concealed weapon, one count of felony firearm, and three counts of attempted murder. Police believe Coates and the victims were involved in a fight in the park prior to shots being fired.

Several agencies were involved in the manhunt for Coates including the FBI Violent Crimes Task Force, Battle Creek and Milwaukee Police Departments, Berrien County Sheriff’s Department and Benton Harbor Public Safety Department.

Michigan attempted murder attorneys know the criminal penalties for attempted murder are extremely serious; in fact, if convicted, an individual may face life in prison.

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At his sentencing hearing on August 15, 21-year-old Willie Lee-Wilson Williams apparently had no reaction when sentenced to between 80 and 160 years in prison for the attempted murder of a female corrections officer in 2012, according to a news article at Mlive.com. Williams allegedly attempted to murder Jaclynn Rodriguez who worked for the Kent County Sheriff’s Department on September 14 of 2012.

Williams was sentenced to 30 to 60 years for four armed robberies, and 50 to 100 years for the attempted murder of Rodriguez. At his sentencing hearing, Kent County Judge Mark Trusock told Williams that he had “no moral compass,” and that he should not be allowed to live in society.

The defendant was incarcerated in the Kent County Jail awaiting trial on four charges of robbery when the alleged attack took place. According to news reports, jurors watched a video that revealed Williams knocking Rodriguez to the ground. Over the course of the assault, the defendant strangled the female corrections officer three times. Rodriguez said in court that she was “ready for death” if it could bring an end to the suffering she was enduring at Williams’ hands. The altercation eventually ended when other inmates at the facility came to Rodriguez’s rescue.

Williams will be 101 years old before he is eligible for parole; Judge Trusock stated he had never seen a criminal record as bad as the defendant’s in his 28-year career as a lawyer and judge. The 21-year-old defendant’s record includes nine life offenses of the total 19 felony convictions.

All Michigan criminal defense attorneys would agree that this young man appears to have a penchant for committing crimes. Still, there are countless individuals who are wrongly convicted every day for crimes they did not commit.

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On March 22 of this year, David Gladstone, a 20-year veteran of the Lansing Police Department, was arrested and charged with assaulting a teen inmate at the city’s jail. Gladstone was suspended following the charge, and placed on administrative leave. On Tuesday August 6, a jury found Gladstone not guilty of misdemeanor assault and battery.

The incident involving the teen allegedly occurred on March 8 according to court records, although no details of the assault have been revealed. Gladstone’s trial was rescheduled twice, the first time due to a motion filed by Brett Naumcheff, the defendant’s attorney, who desired additional discovery and to obtain an expert witness.

Gladstone was one of four men named in a 2009 lawsuit involving the alleged assault of a man who was in the vicinity of a fight police were investigating. According to the plaintiff’s attorney in that case, a settlement of $46,500 was made by the city of Lansing. The plaintiff in the case, Michael Gallagher, accused Gladstone of grabbing and jerking his head back following and incident in which police detained Gallagher following a fight in the area. Gallagher was allegedly not involved in the fight, but complained about how the situation was handled by officers; he was then arrested. He also alleged that Gladstone shoved him into an elevator door face-first.

Michigan assault defense lawyers know that while considered a misdemeanor, a conviction for assault and battery can leave an individual facing jail time and fines of up to $500. Perhaps more importantly, accusations such as these can damage the accused individual’s career and reputation.

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In September of last year we wrote about the shooting death of 36-year-old Micah Arnold in Lansing; at that time, police were in pursuit of Kelvin “Monroe” Bates, who they suspected in the shooting which occurred outside Hildebrant Park apartments. Now, Bates is facing life in prison for the 2012 murder.

Lansing police arrested Bates five days after the shooting. Prosecutors charged the defendant with first-degree murder, felony firearm, assault with intent to commit murder, and three counts of carrying a concealed weapon. He was convicted by an Ingham County jury on June 12, and sentenced on Wednesday, July 24 to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Ingham County Circuit Judge Clinton Canady also sentenced Bates to 15 to 50 years and two years for additional charges.

Arnold was among friends and family who were attending a barbecue/birthday party in the courtyard of the apartment complex when he and Bates apparently had an altercation. According to several witnesses, Bates attempted to start an altercation, pulling a handgun out of his waistband. When Arnold slapped the hand Bates was holding the gun in, he fired at Arnold’s throat. News reports claim that Bates fired several more shots, striking Arnold in the abdomen five times. The victim was taken to an area hospital where he later died.

Michigan murder attorneys know the importance of hiring a capable and aggressive criminal defense lawyer when facing serious charges such as murder. While taking another person’s life is never condoned, all individuals are considered innocent until proven guilty. In order to have the best possible chance of avoiding serious criminal penalties, it is essential you hire a qualified and experienced attorney.

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