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Sunday, June 5, 2016

Detroit Man Arraigned on Kidnapping Charge as Deontae Mitchell Homicide Investigation Continues

On Saturday, June 4, 2016, Prosecutor Kym Worthy charged Ernest Coleman, 26 (DOB: 10/29/89), of Detroit, with kidnapping 13-year-old Deontae Mitchell, of Detroit. It is alleged that on May 31, 2016 at approximately 11:15 p.m., Coleman kidnapped Mitchell with others at a party store in the 15900 block of East Warren. No further information will be provided at this time because the homicide investigation regarding Mitchell's death is ongoing.

Prosecutor Worthy said "The alleged facts in this case explicitly show that the lives of some of Detroit's children continue to be less important than everything else - in this case a few dollars dropped from a pocket. May we all reexamine the worth of our children, and we in the criminal justice system will handle the senseless murder of Deontae."

The defendant was arraigned on Sunday, June 5, 2016 in 34th District Court in Romulus and received a one million dollar bond.

Monday, June 6, 2016

Daniel Kerber - Former Wayne County Airport executive charged with fraudulently obtaining pension funds from the Wayne County Retirement System. The case has been transferred from Judge Thomas Cameron's docket for a pre-trial hearing on June 8, 2016 at 9:00 a.m. before Judge Craig Strong.

Maryanne Godboldo - Judge Giles granted the request by the defense for an adjournment to file a Motion for Reconsideration. The next court date is June 16, 2016 at 8:30 a.m.

Deontae Mitchell Homicide Case Update - No charging decisions are expected on this case today.

Tuesday, June 7, 2016

Judge Orders Davontae Sanford Released from Prison

On Thursday, June 9, 2016 at 10:00 a.m., Prosecutor Kym Worthy will address her decision to move to dismiss charges against Davontae Sanford and the State Police investigation. The press conference will be held in the 12th floor conference room of the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office, located in the Frank Murphy Hall of Justice, 1441 St. Antoine Street, Detroit, Michigan.

In the spring of 2015, a motion for relief from judgment was filed by Davontae Sanford's attorneys, and Wayne County Prosecutor Kym L. Worthy determined that the case warranted an investigation by an independent law enforcement agency. On May 4, 2015, Prosecutor Worthy requested that the Michigan State Police re-investigate the four homicides that occurred on Runyon Street in Detroit.

One year later, on May 20, 2016, the State Police submitted a report of their investigation. Included in that report is a recorded interview in which former Deputy Chief James Tolbert contradicts his sworn testimony that Davontae Sanford drew the entire diagram of the crime scene, including the location of the victims' bodies, while being questioned by the police. This called into question Tolbert's credibility in the case. Recognizing the importance of that testimony, attorneys from the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office worked with Davontae Sanford's attorneys from Dykema Gossett to move to dismiss his case.

Today, the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office and the defense attempted to file a stipulated order to dismiss all charges against Sanford, without prejudice. However, Wayne County Third Circuit Court Judge Brian Sullivan signed an order vacating Sanford's conviction and sentence, and directing that the Michigan Department of Corrections immediately release Sanford on his own recognizance. The court ordered the People to file a Motion to Dismiss the Case, which the court will review.

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Kevin A. Smith - Defendant charged in connection with the assault and robbery of U.S. Federal District Court Judge Terrance Berg. Tomorrow the defendant will be sentenced tomorrow before Judge Timothy Kenny at 8:30 a.m.

Detroit Woman Charged in Double Fatal Car Crash

Wayne County Prosecutor Kym L. Worthy has charged Brittany Tyeisha-Monique Garrett (DOB: 03/12/1991) with a car crash that resulted in two fatalities. It is alleged that on May 29, 2016 at approximately 12:15 a.m., the defendant was driving a vehicle westbound on Chalfonte when she ran through a stop sign at Greenfield and Chalfonte, causing a collision with another vehicle. The impact of the crash caused the second vehicle to swerve onto the sidewalk, striking a man in a wheelchair. Both the driver of the second car and the man in the wheelchair died as a result of this car crash.

Garrett has been charged with two counts of Failure to Stop at the Scene of an Accident When At Fault - Resulting in Death, two counts of Operating while License is Suspended, Revoked or Denied - Causing Death and two counts of Operating While Intoxicated - Causing Death.

On June 2, 2016 Garrett was arraigned in a local hospital by Magistrate Laura Echartea. The probable cause conference is scheduled for June 9, 2016 at 8:30 a.m.; the preliminary examination is scheduled for June 15, 2016 at 9:00 a.m. Both hearings are before Judge Shannon Holmes in 36th District Court. The defendant received a $150,000 cash/surety bond and is currently in the Wayne County Jail.

Wednesday, June 8, 2016

Deontae Mitchell Homicide Case - The case remains under review. There will be no arraignments in the case today.

Daevonte Sanford - On Thursday, June 9, 2016 at 10:00 a.m., Prosecutor Kym Worthy will address her decision to move to dismiss charges against Daevonte Sanford and the State Police investigation. The press conference will be held in the 12th floor conference room of the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office, located in the Frank Murphy Hall of Justice, 1441 St. Antoine Street, Detroit, Michigan.

Deontae Mitchell Homicide Case - Immediately following the press conference on the Sanford case Prosecutor Worthy will announce the charging decisions in the Mitchell case.

Note: Only members of the press will be allowed to attend the press conference. Members of the press are asked to have press credentials to present to security upon request.

Thursday, June 9, 2016

Geneke Lyons - The gag order was set aside today by the court. The Detroit defendant was convicted by a jury of Involuntary Manslaughter and Possessing Dangerous Animals Causing Death. His sentence date is on June 30, 2016 at 8:30 before Judge James Callahan. Prosecutor Worthy said,"We are pleased with the jury verdict and are happy that they convicted the defendant on the highest charge after the judge dismissed the Second Degree Murder charge. We are disappointed, however, that Defendant Lyons remains on bond and was not remanded to jail."

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Three Charged in Homicide of Deontae Mitchell

Prosecutor Kym L. Worthy has charged Gregory Walker, 45, (DOB: 3/22/71), Lillian Roberts, 44, (DOB: 10/9/72), and Ernest Coleman in connection with the homicide of 13-year-old Deontae Mitchell. All of the people involved in the case are Detroit residents.

On May 31, 2016, at approximately 10:30 p.m., Deontae and his cousin were in an alley at the rear of a store in the 15900 block of East Warren when they observed a male drop an unknown amount of cash on the ground. Deontae picked the cash up and he and his cousin rode away on their bicycles. Shortly thereafter, they went separate ways. It is alleged that Walker, Roberts and Coleman kidnapped Deontae at gunpoint, near the store and drove away with him in a car. It is further alleged that Walker beat the child and later choked him to death while aided and abetted by Roberts and Coleman. On June 2, 2016, the lifeless body of Deontae was found in a field on the east side of Detroit. He was transported to the Medical Examiner's Office where his death was ruled to be a homicide. The case was investigated by the Detroit Police Department, along with the Homicide Task Force and the Violent Crimes Task Force.

On June 2, 2016, Walker and Roberts were located in Toledo, Ohio and were extradited back to Detroit this week. On Sunday, June 5, 2016, Coleman was arraigned in this case with a kidnapping charge in 34th District Court in Romulus and received a one million dollar bond.

Gregory Walker Charges

Walker has been charged with one count each of: First Degree Premeditated Murder, Felony Murder, Unlawful Imprisonment, Kidnapping, Torture, Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Felony Firearm.

Lillian Roberts Charges

Roberts has been charged with one count each of: Felony Murder, Kidnapping, Torture, Unlawful Imprisonment, Felon In Possession of a Firearm, and Felony Firearm.

Ernest Coleman Charges

In addition to the kidnapping charge Coleman has been charged today with one count each of: Felony Murder, Torture, Unlawful Imprisonment, Felon In Possession of a Firearm, and Felony Firearm.

The defendants were arraigned this afternoon. The probable cause conference is scheduled for June 16, 2016 at 8:30 a.m.; the preliminary examination is scheduled for June 22, 2016 at 1:30 p.m. Both hearings are before Judge Shannon Holmes in 36th District Court.

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