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Charges Issue in Abuse Case of Three Patients at Livonia COPE Facility

On July 11, 2018 Prosecutor Kym Worthy charged members of the staff of Livonia COPE (Community Outreach for Psychiatric Emergencies). Livonia COPE is a community outreach facility located in the 33500 block of Schoolcraft Road for patients with psychiatric emergencies.* It is alleged that in March of 2018, facility employees, Kyle Jackson, 30 (DOB: 03/25/1987), of Oak Park, Wynton Dixon, 57 (DOB: 10/02/1960) of Detroit, Victor Peterson (DOB: 12/11/1957) of River Rouge, Thomas May (DOB: 02/27/1959) of Westland, Demetris Hunt, 28 (DOB: 07/20/1989), of Wayne, and Delvan Johnson, 24 (DOB: 11/29/1993), of Redford, physically assaulted three male patients, a 26-year-old from Redford, a 48-year old from Romulus and a 51-year-old from Dearborn Heights, who were mental health recipients at that time.

Additionally, it is alleged that staff psychiatrist Dr. Hanumaiah Bandla, 64, (DOB: 07/01/1953), of West Bloomfield and nurses Erma Owens, 79, (DOB: 06/23/1938), of Inkster, and Marjorie Frank, 74 (DOB: 04/25/1943), of Detroit, failed to report abuse of the three men. More complete facts and the evidence in the case will be presented on the record in court.

1. Charges for Allegations from March 9, 2018 through March 11, 2018 - Victim: 51-Year-Old Man from Dearborn Heights**

Defendant Thomas May, 59, (DOB: 02/27/1959), of Westland - Vulnerable Adult Abuse 3rd Degree, Assault and Battery

Defendant Delvan Johnson, 24, (DOB: 11/29/1993) of Redford - Vulnerable Adult Abuse 3rd Degree, Assault and Battery.

2. Charges for Allegations from March 16, 2018 through March 17, 2018 - Victim: 26-Year-Old Man from Redford**

Defendant Kyle Jackson, 30 (DOB: 03/25/1987), of Oak Park - Vulnerable Adult Abuse 3rd Degree (two counts), Assault and Battery (two counts)

Defendant Wynton Dixon, 57 (DOB: 10/02/1960) of Detroit - Vulnerable Adult Abuse 3rd Degree, Assault and Battery

3. Charges for Allegations from March 17, 2018 - Victim: 48-Year-Old Man from Romulus**

Defendant Kyle Jackson, 30 (DOB: 03/25/1987), of Oak Park - Assault With Intent to Do Great Bodily Harm by Strangulation, Vulnerable Adult Abuse 3rd Degree (two counts)

Defendant Wynton Dixon, 57 (DOB: 10/02/1960), of Detroit - Assault With Intent to Do Great Bodily Harm by Strangulation, Vulnerable Adult Abuse 3rd Degree

4. Charges for Allegations from March 16, 2018 - Victim: 48-Year-Old Man from Romulus**

Defendant Demetris Hunt, 28 (DOB: 07/20/1989), of Wayne - Vulnerable Adult Abuse 3rd Degree, Assault and Battery

5. Charges for Allegations from March 17, 2018 through March 23, 2018 - Victim: 48-Year-Old Romulus Man**

Defendant Hanumaiah Bandla, 64 (DOB: 07/01/1953), of West Bloomfield - Failure to Report Abuse of a Mental Health Recipient

6. Charges for Allegations from March 9, 2018 through March 11, 2018 - Victim: 51-Year-Old Dearborn Heights Man**

Defendant Wynton Dixon, 57, (DOB: 10/02/1960), of Detroit - Failure to Report Abuse of Mental Health Recipient

7. Charges for Allegations from March 15, 2018 through March 18, 2018 - Victims: 48 -Year-Old Man from Romulus and 26-Year-Old Man from Redford**

Defendant Demetris Hunt, 28, (DOB: 07/20/1989), of Wayne - Assault and Battery, Failure to Report Abuse of Mental Health Recipient.

Defendant Victor Peterson, 60, (DOB: 12/11/1957), of River Rouge - Vulnerable Adult Abuse 3rd Degree, Assault and Battery

8. Charges for Allegations from March 16, 2018 - Victim: 48-Year-Old Man from Romulus**

Defendant Erma Owens, 79 (DOB: 06/23/1938), of Inkster - Failure to Report Abuse of a Mental Health Recipient

Defendant Kyle Jackson was arraigned on July 11, 2018 and received a $5000/10% cash or surety bond. His Probable Cause Conference is on July 19th at 9:00 a.m. before Judge Kathleen McCann.

9. Charges for Alelgations from March 17, 2018 - 48-Year-Old Man from Romulus**

Defendant Marjorie Frank, 74, (DOB: 04/25/1943), of Detroit - Failure to Report Abuse of Mental Health Recipient.

On Thursday, July 12, 2018, the following defendants were arraigned in 16th District Court in Livonia:Defendants Bandla and Owens received a $5000/10% bond and pretrial conferences on August 8, 2018. Defendants May, Dixon, Peterson and Hunt will have their Probable Cause Conferences on July 19, 2018. Defendant May received a personal bond. Defendants Dixon and Peterson received 10,000/10% bonds. Defendant Hunt received a $5000/10% bond.

On Friday, July 13, 2018, Defendant Delvan Johnson was arraigned and received a 10,000/10% bond. His Probable Cause Conference is on July 19, 2018.

On July 17, 2018, Defendant Marjorie Frank was arraigned in 16th District Court and received a $5,000 personal bond. Her next court date is on July 26, 2048 at 9:00 a.m.

Statement of Prosecutor Kym Worthy

Prosecutor Kym Worthy said, "The alleged abuse inflicted by these defendants is shocking. The victims sought psychiatric help and were met with the opposite of help. We have to be much better than this. People that seek assistance deserve compassion, respect, and treatment that is beyond reproach."

*Note: Livonia COPE is part of Hegira Programs. Their press contact is Dan Austin, 313-872-2202

**The charges are allegations and defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

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