Share:
Font Size:

Monday, June 16, 2014

Bruce Edward Wimbush - Defendant charged in the beating of Steven Utash. Today Wimbush pleaded guilty to Assault with Intent to Do Great Bodily Harm (10 years), a reduction from the original charge of Assault with Intent to Murder (any term of years up to life in prison). There is a sentence agreement that, in exchange for the plea reduction, Wimbush will cooperate by testifying in future proceedings related to the assault of Mr. Utash, and in return for his truthful testimony, the prosecution will not object if the court sentences Wimbush under the Holmes Youthful Trainee Act (HYTA). Today Judge James Callahan granted Wimbush a $20,000 personal bond and placed him on a GPS tether.

Defendants Saffold, Davis and Cummings will be in court on Thursday, June 19, 2014 at 9:00 a.m. for a final conference before Judge Callahan.

Steven Utash Beating Case - On Wednesday, June 18, 2014 at 9:00 a.m., the juvenile respondent will appear in court for a pre-trial conference before Judge Jerome Cavanagh, located in the Lincoln Hall of Justice.

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

911 Dispatcher Charged with Willful Neglect of Duty

Prosecutor Kym L. Worthy has charged 911 dispatcher Craig Miller*, 46, (DOB: 11/29/66) with the charge Public Official - Willful Neglect of Duty, a misdemeanor carrying a one year penalty. On August 30, 2013 at approximately 5:51 a.m., it is alleged that, while on-duty as a Detroit Police Department dispatcher, Miller failed several times to dispatch officers in a timely manner to respond to a 911 police run that resulted in a non-fatal shooting at a location in the 13800 block of Bringard in Detroit. Miller was arraigned before Magistrate Renee McDuffee and a $5000 bond was set by the court. He is expected to appear before Judge Ronald Giles on June 26, 2014 at 8:30 a.m. Please contact the Detroit Police Department for a photograph and the current employment status of Miller.

#####

911 Dispatcher Warrant Request Denied

On May 13, 2013 at approximately 4:45 a.m., a female on-duty Detroit Police Department dispatcher received a 911 police run for an assault and battery in progress of a Detroit woman that occurred in the 23800 block of Lyndon in Detroit. Calls for service were made four times; the last call was at 6:01 a.m. on May 13, 2013. Police and EMS arrived at the location at approximately 6:14 a.m. The woman was fatally stabbed and was pronounced dead on arrival at a local hospital.

A warrant request was presented to the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office regarding this incident. The facts and evidence were thoroughly reviewed. It was determined that there was insufficient evidence presented to prove a case beyond a reasonable doubt that the 911 dispatcher neglected her duty to timely dispatch police officers on a priority call to 911.

Marcellus Romal Hill* Charged with Sexual Assault of 52-Year-Old Woman

Prosecutor Kym L. Worthy has charged Marcellus Romal Hill, 28 (DOB: 1/11/86) of Detroit in connection with the sexual assault of a 52-year-old Detroit woman. It is alleged that on June 17, 2014, at approximately 2:00 a.m., Hill entered the victim's home located in the 10700 block of Santa Maria through a window, held her against her will, physically assaulted her and sexually assaulted her. Investigation by the Detroit Police Department led to the arrest of the defendant on June 17, 2014.

Hill is charged with Home Invasion, Kidnapping, Robbery Not Armed, three counts of Criminal Sexual Conduct First Degree, three counts of Criminal Sexual Conduct Third Degree, Assault with Intent to Do Great Bodily Harm and Strangulation. Although the charges have been authorized in 36th District Court it is appears unlikely that the defendant will be arraigned today. An update will be sent out when we have arraignment information. Please contact the Detroit Police Department for a photograph of the defendant.

#####

*Marcellus Romal Hill pleaded guilty in September 2009 to Criminal Sexual Conduct case number 09-018748-01-FC and was sentenced to one year in jail and five years probation. The original counts were dismissed in return for the plea at the victim's request due to her serious health concerns. The prosecution requested to be notified if there was any probation violation. In 2012, when the defendant violated his probation, prosecutors were notified and opposed continuing his probation; Judge Lawrence Talon extended Hill's term of probation until September 30, 2014. In 2013, when he violated his probation another time, prosecutors were not notified and his probation was again continued until September 30, 2014 by the court.

Steven Utash Case - The 16-year-old juvenile respondent pleaded guilty to Assault with Intent to Do Great Bodily Harm Less that Murder, a plea reduction from the original charge of Assault with Intent to Murder. The charge of Ethnic Intimidation was dismissed in return for the plea. The juvenile has agreed to cooperate with the prosecution by giving truthful testimony in any upcoming criminal prosecutions related to this case. Today he was sentenced by Judge Jerome Cavanagh; he remains in custody and the type of placement that he will receive will be determined by the Wayne County Probation Department.

The three adult defendants will be back in court tomorrow before Judge James Callahan at 9:00 a.m.

Thursday, June 19, 2014

Marcellus Romal Hill - The defendant was arraigned today and received a $500,000 cash/surety bond and the preliminary examination is scheduled for Tuesday, July 1, 2014 at 8:30 a.m. before Judge Michael Wagner.

Steven Utash Case - Today the remaining adult defendants, Wonzey Saffold, James Davis and Latrez Cummings all pleaded guilty before Judge James Callahan to Assault with Intent to Do Great Bodily Harm (10 years), a reduction from the original charge of Assault with Intent to Murder (any term of years up to life in prison). Saffold's sentence hearing will be held on July 7, 2014 at 9:00 a.m. Davis and Cummings will be sentenced on July 10, 2014 at 9:00 a.m.

On Monday, June 16, 2014, Bruce Wimbush pleaded guilty to Assault with Intent to Do Great Bodily Harm (10 years), a reduction from the original charge of Assault with Intent to Murder (any term of years up to life in prison). There is a sentence agreement that in exchange for the plea reduction Wimbush will cooperate by testifying in future proceedings related to the assault of Mr. Utash, and in return for his truthful testimony the prosecution will not object if the court sentences Wimbush under the Holmes Youthful Trainee Act (HYTA). Today Judge James Callahan granted Wimbush a $20,000 personal bond and placed him on a GPS tether. He will be sentenced on July 7, 2014 at 9:00 a.m.

On Wednesday, June 18, 2014, the 16-year-old juvenile respondent pleaded guilty to Assault with Intent to Do Great Bodily Harm Less than Murder. The charge of Ethnic Intimidation was dismissed in return for the plea. The juvenile has agreed to cooperate with the prosecution by giving truthful testimony in any upcoming criminal prosecutions related to this case. Today he was sentenced by Judge Jerome Cavanagh, he remains in custody and the type of placement that he will receive will be determined by the Wayne County Probation Department.

Friday, June 20, 2014

Theodore Wafer - Defendant charged in the fatal shooting of Renisha McBride. Motion hearings were held in part and will continue on June 26, 2014 at 9:00 a.m. before Judge Dana Hathaway.

Lavere Bryant - Defendant charged in the Dearborn Family Dollar double homicide case. Today the defendant was found competent to stand trial. The pre-trial conference is scheduled for July 11, 2014 at 9:00 a.m. before Judge Dana Hathaway.

Two Detroit Men Charged in Beating of Motorist

Prosecutor Kym L. Worthy has charged Toriano Williams, 20 (DOB: 7/18/93) and Demond Williams, 33 (DOB: 2/2/81), both of Detroit, in connection with the beating of motorist Nathaniel Szczerbinski, 34, of Grosse Pointe Park. On June 7, 2014 at approximately 4:15 p.m. at a location of Vernor and Chalmers in Detroit, it is alleged that the victim was driving his car in the wrong direction and was in a traffic accident involving a car driven by Demond Williams with Toriano Williams, who was riding in the passenger seat. When all of the men exited their cars, it is alleged that the defendants beat and kicked the victim. Investigation by the Detroit Police Department led to the arrest of the defendants. The victim was conveyed to a local hospital for treatment.

The defendants have been charged with Assault with Intent to Do Great Bodily Harm, Aggravated Assault. Demond Williams has also been charged with Driving with an Expired License. Please request a photograph of the defendants from the Detroit Police Department.

On June 17, 2014, both defendants were arraigned and their preliminary examinations are scheduled on June 30, 2014 at 9:00 a.m. before Judge Joseph Baltimore in 36th District Court. The defendants received a 40,000/10% bond.

Motor City Pride Assault Case - A juvenile male respondent (DOB: 2/9/98) is expected to appear in court tomorrow on charges of Assault with Intent to do Great Bodily Harm and Aggravated Assault in connection with the June 8, 2014 assault on Christin Howard, 20, who was attending the Motor City Pride event in Detroit. The hearing will be held at the Juvenile Detention Facility as early as 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 20, 2014.

# # # # #