Latest news with #14ADistrictCourt
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Yahoo
Judge: Case against codefendants in Northfield Twp. killings can proceed to trial
The case against Gregory Callhan and Keith Finley, accused in the Northfield Township foster mother killing and child abduction, can proceed to trial, ruled a Washtenaw County district judge, who also added another charge of armed robbery against both codefendants. The codefendants had their preliminary hearing in court on April 16 while the main suspect, Shuvonne Vinson, awaits a psychological evaluation in late May. Although the prosecutor on the case, Amy Reiser, acknowledged in court that it was Vinson who pulled the trigger, Reiser described Callhan and Finley as aiders and abettors who knew of Vinson's plans for the killing and to abduct the girl from the home but helped her anyway. Defense attorney Rita Young disagreed, emphasizing blame on Vinson in court. "She shot those people. She made the decisions," Young said. Vinson and the two men are accused of breaking into her 4-year-old daughter's foster parents' home on New Year's Day, killing the foster mother, 48-year-old Jennifer Bernhard, and Bernhard's father, Stevie Ray Smith, 74. The foster father, Jeffery Bernhard, also was shot and severely injured but survived the attack. Vinson's daughter and the Bernhards' biological daughter, then 9, were abducted but were quickly recovered. Washtenaw County 14A District Court Judge Cedric Simpson ultimately sided with the prosecution and ruled there was enough evidence for their cases to proceed to trial, citing admissions made by Callhan and Finley that they were well aware of Vinson's plans. More: Authorities investigate how foster home was found before Northfield Twp. tragedy More: Brother of mom accused in Northfield Twp. killings says he knows why she may have snapped Simpson heard testimony from detectives on the case who said Callhan and Finley both admitted that Vinson told them of her plans to kill and to take her daughter. Callhan allegedly told authorities that Vinson provided him with a shotgun to help control the victims. Police said Finley allegedly told authorities he was asked to help Vinson while they were smoking weed prior to the tragedy, then she had a gun and went "crazy." Callhan and Finley didn't shoot anyone, but they took part in the theft of jewelry, credit cards, and money from the Bernhards, police testified. Detectives also testified that Callhan said he knew Vinson from childhood, and Finley had allegedly met Vinson at a "crack house." The day before the killings, a video found on Vinson's phone shows the three driving together. Callhan and Finley were each charged with several crimes, including two counts of homicide, two counts of child kidnapping, home invasion, assault with intent to murder, conspiracy, and felony weapons charges. Andrea Sahouri covers criminal justice for the Detroit Free Press. Contact her at asahouri@ or on X: @andreamsahouri. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Judge: Case against codefendants in Northfield Twp. killings can proceed to trial
CBS News
25-02-2025
- CBS News
Arrest made after armed robbery at Saline Subway restaurant
An arrest has been made in Sunday's armed robbery of a Subway restaurant in Washtenaw County, Michigan, police report. John Fulton, age 59, had an arraignment hearing Monday afternoon at 14A District Court on the following charges: robbery-armed, assault with a dangerous weapon (felonious assault) and weapons-carrying concealed, according to the press release. Saline Police Department officers were called after a robbery happened about 2 p.m. that day at the Subway at 1010 E. Michigan Ave., Saline. The suspect, who was armed with a knife, had taken an undisclosed amount of cash and drove off in a black Chevrolet Equinox. Officers used surveillance video to get a photo of the suspect, and posted it on the police department's Facebook page in hopes of getting more information from the public. With the leads about his potential identity and whereabouts, officers from the Saline Police Department, with assistance from Milan Police Department, Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office and Pittsfield Township Police & Fire, located the suspect on Lewis Avenue in the nearby city of Milan. The suspect was taken into custody without incident, and lodged at the Washtenaw County Jail. The Washtenaw County Prosecutor's Office then authorized the three felony charges. A probable cause conference is scheduled for March 6. "On behalf of the Saline Police Department, we thank our partnering police agencies and Washtenaw County Metro-Dispatch for their professionalism while assisting our agency during this incident," Saline Police Chief Marlene A. Radzik said in the department's press release.
