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News Updates - Week of April 28 - May 4, 2019
NEWS UPDATES
Monday, April 29, 2019
Statement of Prosecutor Kym Worthy on
the Passing of Judge Damon Keith
"Judge Damon Keith was simply one of the greatest jurists of the 20th and 21st Centuries. His impact and legacy will live on in Michigan and the United States."
Adult Designated Juvenile Charged in Fatal Shooting
Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy has charged Demar Keyan Pernell, 15, (DOB: 06/06/2003) of Detroit, as an adult designated juvenile, in connection with the fatal shooting of Winston Davis Williams, 20, also of Detroit. Upon conviction the adult designation allows the judge to sentence the defendant as a juvenile, or an adult, or to fashion a blended juvenile and adult sentence.On April 16, 2019, at approximately 6:18 p.m., Detroit Police were dispatched to a fatal shooting in the area of Plymouth Road and Asbury Park. Upon arrival, the officers discovered the victim lying in the alley, unresponsive. EMS was called and the victim was transported to a local hospital for treatment of his injures, where he was pronounced deceased. Investigation by the Detroit Police led to the arrest of the defendant. It is alleged that the defendant attempted to rob the victim during a gun sale.
Pernell has been charged with First Degree Murder Felony Murder, Armed Robbery and Felony Firearm.* The Preliminary Hearing was held before Referee Graves on April 27, 2019 and Pernell was remanded to the Juvenile Detention Facility. The Preliminary Examination is on Thursday, May 2, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. There is no photograph of the defendant that WCPO has been able to obtain.
*The charges are allegations and defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Tuesday, April 30, 2019
Chelsa Wagner and Khari Mosley - Today Pittsburgh Controller Chelsa Wagner had her Calendar Conference in Wayne County Third Circuit Court Criminal Division before Judge Dalton Roberson. She was not present and her attorney Charles Longstreet appeared on her behalf. A Final Conference date was scheduled for June 19, 2019 at 9:00 a.m.; a trial date will be scheduled at that time. Ms. Wagner's husband, Khari Mosley's next scheduled court date is for the Final Conference on May 13, 2019, at 9:00 a.m. in 36th District Court before Judge Ronald Giles.
Wednesday, May 1, 2019
Mark Lin Bessner - MSP Trooper charged in connection with the August 26, 2017 fatal ATV crash that killed 15-year-old Damon Grimes on Rossini Street in Detroit. On October 31, 2018, the first trial was declared a mistrial due to a hung jury. On April 17, 2019, in the second trial, the jury returned a guilty verdict on the charge of Involuntary Manslaughter and the defendant was remanded to jail. On the day of the verdict Prosecutor Kym Worthy said, "The jury made a strong statement today about the defendant's criminal actions. This verdict was a result of a lot of hard work by my office and law enforcement. I want to thank this jury and it is my earnest hope that this verdict brings some small semblance of peace to the Grimes family." Bessner's May 2, 2019 sentence hearing has been adjourned at the request of the defense. It is now scheduled to be held on May 13, 2019 at 9:00 a.m. before Judge Margaret Van Houten.
Sixteen-Year-Old Male Charged as a Juvenile with
Criminal Sexual Conduct Third Degree
Prosecutor Kym Worthy has charged a 16-year-old Detroit male in connection with having sexual contact with a 13-year-old Detroit female. On April 29, 2019, the Detroit Fire Department received a 911 call to a west side home in Detroit. When they arrived they found a newborn boy on the bathroom floor, wrapped in a towel. His 13-year-old mother was lying unconscious on the bathroom floor. Firefighters and emergency medical personnel rendered assistance to the infant and his mother. They were transported to a local hospital for treatment. No further information is being released at this at this time because the case remains under investigation.
It is alleged that the 16-year-old male had sexual contact with 13-year-old girl several times since July 2018. The juvenile male has been charged with one count of Criminal Sexual Conduct - Person 13-15 years old.*
A Preliminary Hearing was held today before Referee Daniel McGuire at the Juvenile Detention Facility. A $5,000/10% bond was ordered and a Pre-Trial Hearing is scheduled on May 20, 2019 at 1:30 p.m. before Judge Frank Szymanski at the Lincoln Hall of Justice. It was ordered that if bond is posted, the juvenile respondent must have no contact with the 13-year-old, or any other minor child under the age of 16, unless under the direct supervision of an adult. WCPO does not have a photograph of the juvenile respondent.
*The charges are allegations and defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Thursday, May 2, 2019
William Wilbourn-Little - Defendant tried in connection with the September 9, 2018 White Castle triple fatal shooting that occurred on West Warren in Detroit. He was convicted of three counts of First Degree Murder, one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm and one count of Felony Firearm. He will be sentenced before Judge Prentis Edwards on May 16, 2019 at 9:00 a.m.
Detroit Man Who Fatally Shot His Father and Non-Fatally Shot His Mother - WCPO has not received a warrant on this case. It is currently being investigated by DPD.
Male Sexual Assault Suspect Arrested by DPD Yesterday - WCPO has not received a warrant request on this case. We have been informed that the warrant request may come tomorrow.
Detroit Man Charged in Sexual Assault of a Minor
Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy has charged Prince James Lewis, 21 (DOB: 08/08/1997) of Detroit, in connection with the sexual assault of a 14-year-old female minor from Almont, Michigan.On April 29, 2019, Redford Police responded to a call for help at a drug store located in the 25300 block of Five Mile Road in Redford Township. Upon arrival, the officers located the 14-year-old female victim. It is alleged the victim was sexually assaulted by the defendant at a location in the 16200 block of Fenton Street in Detroit. Investigation by multiple police agencies led to the apprehension of Lewis. More complete facts and evidence in the case will be presented on the record in court.
Lewis has been charged with four counts of Criminal Sexual Conduct - Third Degree and one count of Criminal Sexual Assault - Fourth Degree.* He arraigned this afternoon before 36th District Court Magistrate Millicent Sherman. The Probable Cause Conference is scheduled for May 14, 2019 at 8:30 a.m.; the Preliminary Examination is scheduled for May 21, 2019 at 9:00 a.m. Both hearings are before Judge Cylenthia Miller in 36th District Court. The defendant received a $150,000/10% bond. Please request a photograph of the defendant from the Detroit Police Department.
*The charges are allegations and defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Warrant Request for Detroit Fatal Shooting at Hayes and Fordham Denied
The Shooter Acted in Lawful Self-Defense
Today the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office has denied a warrant request for a 37-year-old Detroit woman* suspected in the fatal shooting of Angela McDuell, 48, of Clinton Township. The suspect and Ms. McDuell knew each other and were previously in a relationship. On April 22, 2019 at, 7:15 p.m., Ms. McDuell, the suspect and a female friend were outside of a liquor store at Hayes and Fordham in Detroit. All three women engaged in a verbal argument in the parking lot of the store. During the argument, Ms. McDuell pepper sprayed the suspect. The suspect, a licensed CPL holder, went to her car and retrieved a handgun. The verbal argument appeared to end, and Ms. McDuell walked back to her car. Shortly thereafter, Ms. McDuell got into her car and twice drove it in reverse at a high rate of speed toward the suspect and her friend as they tried to get away. When Ms. McDuell drove at them for third time, almost pinning them against a wall with her car, the suspect fired one shot, fatally wounding Ms. McDuell.
Under Michigan law, in order to use deadly force in self-defense, a person must have an honest and reasonable belief that she is danger of being killed or seriously injured. The law also provides that if the person has an honest and reasonable belief that another person is danger of being killed or seriously injured, there is right to use deadly force in lawful self-defense of another.
Witness interviews and video evidence of the incident were thoroughly reviewed. The evidence in this case shows that Ms. McDuell drove her car at the suspect and her friend at a high rate of speed multiple times. The suspect did not point the gun at Ms. McDuell prior to the shooting and did not fire a shot until the third time that the car sped toward the suspect and her friend, nearly pinning them to the wall. It was reasonable for the suspect to assume that being struck by the car or pinned against the wall would cause death or serious injury. The facts of this case clearly show that it was reasonable for the suspect to use deadly force to defend herself and her friend. The Wayne County Prosecutor's Office finds that the shooting was justified and the warrant request has been denied.
*The name of the shooter is not being released because she will not be charged with a crime.
Friday, May 3, 2019
Male Sexual Assault Suspect Arrested by DPD on May 1, 2019 - WCPO has recently received a warrant request on this case and it is currently being reviewed. A charging decision will not occur in time for the 1:00 p.m. arraignments in 36th District Court today. A release will be sent when a decision has been made.
Detroit Man Charged in Fatal Shooting of His Father
and Non-Fatal Shooting of His Mother
Prosecutor Kym Worthy has charged Alton Lyons, 35 (DOB:03/14/1984), in connection with the fatal shooting of his father, Ardel Hough, 60, and the non-fatal shooting of his mother, Melissa Hough, 64, all of Detroit.
On May 1, 2019, at approximately 5:51 p.m., Detroit police officers were dispatched to the Hough family home in the 20400 block of Grandview. When they arrived, the defendant was standing outside of the home. It is alleged that the defendant shot both of his parents. He was arrested and taken into custody at the scene. Upon entering the home, the officers observed the lifeless body of Mr. Hough with two gunshot wounds to his head. Mrs. Hough found alive and suffering from a gunshot wound on the left side of her body. She was transported by medics to a local hospital.
Defendant Lyons has been charged with First Degree Murder, Assault with Intent to Murder, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, and three counts of Felony Firearm.* He was arraigned this afternoon before 36th District Court Magistrate Millicent Sherman. The Probable Cause Conference is scheduled for May 17, 2019 at 8:30 a.m.; the Preliminary Examination is scheduled for May 24, 2019 at 1:30 p.m. Both hearings are before Judge William McConico in 36th District Court. The defendant was remanded to jail. Please request at photograph of the defendant from the Detroit Police Department.
*The charges are allegations and defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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