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News Updates - Week of June 18-24, 2017
Tuesday, June 20, 2017
Tremaine Neverson /Trey Songz - Defendant accused of assaulting a DPD officer at Joe Louis Arena on December 28, 2016. Today Judge Lawrence Talon granted prosecution motions to allow video and still photography in the case. The next court date has not been determined by the court. The trial is scheduled for September 12, 2017 at 9:00 a.m.
Wednesday, June 21, 2017
Fair Michigan Justice Project Successfully Prosecutes LGBTQ Crimes
On July 12, 2016, Fair Michigan and the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office formed the Fair Michigan Justice Project (FMJP) partnership to focus on homicides and other capital offenses committed against members of the LGBTQ community. This effort is funded by Fair Michigan at no cost to the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office; Fair Michigan is a 501(c)(3). This initiative is one of the first of its kind in the nation. http://www.fairmichigan.org/fair-michigan-justice-project/
Fair Michigan and the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office prosecute crimes against members of the LGBTQ community, especially those which are "cold" or those where witnesses or LGBTQ community members may be reluctant to come forward. The networking ability and outreach of Fair Michigan assists in reaching potential witnesses to resolve difficult cases.
Fair Michigan Justice Project Case Summaries
In the past year FMJP has advanced the cause of criminal justice and public safety in Metro Detroit by prosecuting the following cases.
Steven Edwards - The defendant assaulted the victim with a firearm while filming it, stating that he hated black gays. The defendant went on an hours-long rant about hating gay people and posted it on social media.
Convicted: Felonious Assault, Felony Firearm
Sentence: Two years in MDOC, three years probation on Felonious Assault
Iyesha Porter - The defendant discovered her teenage daughter was seeing another girl, picked her up from school and beat her while calling her anti-gay names.
Convicted: Child Abuse - Third Degree
Sentence: Two years Probation / Parenting Classes / Anger Management
Anthony Thornton - The defendant held a transgender man against his will and raped him.
Convicted: Two counts of Criminal Sexual Conduct - First Degree, Unlawful Imprisonment
Sentence: 15 years to 30 years in MDOC.
Devin Higgins - The defendant targeted gay men on-line, lured them into sexual banter, then claimed his young child had seen pictures of their genitals. He said would contact police if he did not receive the money. The defendant did not have a child. The victim turned over $1500 before going to police. Defendant was also prosecuted federally for the same contact and extorting over $70,000 from another victim.
Convicted: Extortion
Sentence: Three and a half years - 20 years in MDOC.
Byron Wade - The defendant threatened a gay man with a knife for no other reason than being gay.
Convicted: Felonious Assault
Sentence: Three years probation, one year in Wayne County Jail
Jason Hogan - The defendant shot a transgender prostitute in the face after paying for sex acts.
Convicted: Assault With Intent to Murder, Felony Firearm
Sentence: Eighty-one months - 20 years in MDOC plus two years for Felony firearm
Kaleel Williams - The defendant met victim online; victim told Williams he was male and not female, Williams agreed to meet. At the meeting spot, the defendant arrived with latex gloves. When victim refused to get in the car, defendant called him a gay ass bitch and shot him twice in the back as he ran away.
Convicted: Assault With Intent to Murder, Felony Firearm
Sentence: Four and ½ years - 20 years plus two years for Felony Firearm
Sean Nathan - The defendant's brother's boyfriend had a fight over household responsibilities while calling the victim anti-gay names. The defendant stabbed the victim during the fight.
Convicted: Felonious Assault
Sentence: One year WCJ, three years Probation, Drug Treatment, Psych Eval and treatment, 180 days on tether upon release
The defendant was also convicted of Felonious Assault on a separate case and received a sentence concurrent with the case above.
Pending cases:
People v. Joshua Amos - Armed Robbery
People v. Andrew Czarnecki & Hameer Alkotait - Murder - First Degree, Mutilation of a Dead Body
People v. Anthony Thornton - Criminal Sexual Conduct - First Degree - (second victim)
*The charges are allegations and defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Statement of FM President Dana Nessel
President of Fair Michigan Justice Project Dana Nessel said, "During a time when we commemorate the victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, and when hate crimes against the LGBTQ community have risen exponentially across the nation, I am comforted to know that the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office and the law enforcement agencies in Wayne County have made such extraordinary efforts to partner with Fair Michigan in finding new and innovative ways to combat these brutal offenses. I am especially grateful to Prosecutor Kym Worthy, who recognized the need to take action to combat vicious acts against a class of people who were falling through the cracks of the criminal justice system. Thanks to the Fair Michigan Justice Project, the LGBTQ community in Wayne County can be assured that their lives and their safety truly matter and that the criminal justice system in our county will treat them with the respect and dignity deserved by all people."
Statement of Prosecutor Kym Worthy
Prosecutor Kym Worthy said, "I am very proud of our work here. This collaboration has been even more successful than imagined. The cases that we have prosecuted would most likely have been ignored and certainly justice is now slowly being afforded. Our work has been so fruitful that we are seeking funding for another prosecutor and investigator. Clearly, members of the LGBTQ community are safer and more engaged since the WCPO and FMJP created this partnership."
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Thursday, June 22, 2017
Detroit Man Charged in Fatal Shooting Of Ex-Girlfriend on Avon Street
Prosecutor Kym Worthy has charged Earl Thomas-Lionel Maxwell, 37, (DOB: 07/29/1979), of Detroit, in connection with the fatal shooting of his ex-girlfriend, Latrese Morris-Dorsey, 42, of Detroit. On June 18, 2017 at 8:00 p.m., it is alleged that he shot the victim multiple times in her home in the 20060 block of Avon in Detroit. It is further alleged that he did this when the victim's four-year-old daughter was in the same room and her 14-year-old son was in a nearby room in the house. Medics were called to the scene and pronounced the victim dead shortly after the shooting. On June 20, 2017, the defendant turned himself in to the Detroit Police in connection with the fatal shooting. More complete facts and evidence will be presented in court at the preliminary examination.
Prosecutor Worthy said, "What makes these allegations especially disturbing is that the crime was committed in the presence of one of the deceased's children and within earshot of another. They will have to live with these images for the rest of their lives."
Maxwell has been charged with First Degree Murder and Felony Firearm.* Hel was arraigned at 2:30 p.m. this afternoon before 36th District Court Magistrate Bari Blake Wood. The probable cause conference is scheduled for July 5, 2017 at 8:30 a.m.; the preliminary examination is scheduled for July 12, 2017 at 1:30 p.m. Both hearings are before 36th District Court Judge William McConico.
*The charges are allegations and defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Detroit Man Charged in Car-Pedestrian Fatality
Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy has charged Michael Daniel Williams, 67 (DOB: 05/06/1950), of Detroit, in connection with a fatal car crash that killed Jason Javon Gant, 33, also of Detroit.
On June 20, 2017 at approximately 5:20 a.m., it is alleged that Williams was driving a vehicle westbound on East Warren at Cadillac Boulevard, when he struck the victim crossing East Warren on foot. The defendant was arrested at the scene. Medics were called to the scene and the victim was transported to a local hospital for treatment, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
Williams has been charged with Driving While License Suspended Causing Death and Reckless Driving Causing Death*. He was arraigned on the warrant at this morning before Magistrate Bari Blake Wood in 36th District Court. The probable cause conference is scheduled for June 29, 2017 at 8:30 a.m.; the preliminary examination is scheduled for July 5, 2017 at 9:00 a.m. Both hearings are before 36th District Court Judge Lydia Nance-Adams. The defendant received a $10,000/10% bond.
*The charges are allegations and defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Friday, June 23, 2017
Detroit Man Charged in Navy Street Non-Fatal Shooting
Prosecutor Kym Worthy has charged Todd Louis Ison, 52 (DOB: 07/24/1964), of Detroit, in connection with a non-fatal shooting incident. On June 21, 2017 at 10:29 p.m. at Ison's home in the 7200 block of Navy Street, it is alleged that Ison fired several shots through a bedroom door while a 35-year-old man and a woman, both of Detroit, were inside the bedroom. The shots struck the 35-year-old man in his right arm, right leg and face area. Ison fled from the location on foot. The woman called 911; police and medics were dispatched to the location. The male victim was taken to a local hospital for treatment. On June 22, 2017, investigation by the Detroit Police led to Ison's arrest.
The defendant has been charged with two counts of Assault with Intent to Murder, two counts of Assault with Intent to Do Great Bodily Harm, two counts of Unlawful Carrying of a Weapon, and three counts of Felony Firearm.* Ison was arraigned at 2:30 this afternoon before 36th District Court Magistrate Dawn White. The probable cause conference is scheduled for June 30, 2017 at 8:30 a.m.; the preliminary examination is scheduled for July 6, 2017 at 9:00 a.m. Both hearings are before 36th District Court Judge Deborah Lewis Langston. The defendant received a $500,000 cash/surety bond.
*The charges are allegations and defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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