Latest news with #OaklandCountyProsecutor'sOffice
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
2 face charges after guns found near Pontiac graduation ceremony
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Two Pontiac men face weapons charges after the Oakland County Sheriff's Office said they intended to 'shoot up' a high school graduation on the southeast side of the state last week. Jamarion Hardiman, 20, and Deahveon Whaley, 19, are each accused of carrying a firearm with unlawful intent, possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony and carrying a concealed weapon, according to the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office. 2 planned to 'shoot up' graduation in Pontiac, sheriff says The graduation for a Pontiac charter school was held June 3 at the UWM Sports Complex. The prosecutor's office says surveillance video shows Hardiman and Whaley — neither of whom attended the charter school, authorities previously said — go in to the building together. Hardiman then attacked an 'unidentified individual,' prosecutors said. Security broke up the fight and got them to go outside, but the fight resumed in the parking lot. Surveillance video shows Hardiman was then hit by a car, though he seemed uninjured. Prosecutors say he and Whaley went back to their car, where Whaley put a gun in his waistband and Hardiman grabbed a backpack. Surveillance video later showed them crouching near cars in the parking lot, where investigators say they ditched the gun and backpack — which authorities say contained a second gun. '(The guns were) fully loaded with high-capacity magazines. Each weapon had a 40-round magazine,' Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said at a news conference Friday. 'I believe (deputies and security) probably prevented a mass shooting.' Whaley was arrested Wednesday. Hardiman was arrested within hours of the news conference, at which Bouchard asked the public for help finding him. The sheriff's office said a witness reported having seen a Snapchat post threatening to 'shoot up' the graduation. But the prosecutor's office said deputies have so far not been able to track that post down or get the name of the witness who reported seeing it. If that changes, the prosecutor's office said, more charges may be filed. Bouchard said both suspects have histories of violence and Hardiman was already on probation for a weapons offense. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
30-04-2025
- CBS News
Ex-Michigan hockey doctor sentenced to 10 to 25 years for sexual misconduct
Farmington Hills deer decision; Trump to speak in Warren; Pistons in playoffs; and more top stories. Farmington Hills deer decision; Trump to speak in Warren; Pistons in playoffs; and more top stories. Farmington Hills deer decision; Trump to speak in Warren; Pistons in playoffs; and more top stories. A former Michigan hockey doctor who pleaded no contest to 28 charges related to sexual misconduct was sentenced to 10 to 25 years in prison, according to the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office. Zvi Levran, 68, was sentenced on Tuesday and must register on the Michigan Sex Offender Registry. Levran faced multiple charges, including 10 counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct and 12 counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct, in four cases. He was first charged in 2022 for sexually assaulting a 19-year-old man during an exam. After the charges were announced, other victims, primarily young men and boys, came forward and accused Levran of sexual abuse. Prosecutors say Levran met most of his victims while providing medical assistance to youth hockey teams. During a court hearing in late 2024, one of the victims testified that he was asked to remove his clothes during a follow-up visit, and Levran took photos of him. Investigators testified to finding multiple inappropriate images of the victim on Levran's phone. In another incident, prosecutors say the former doctor solicited a video from another person. "Zvi Levran exploited his position as a trusted caregiver to abuse patients, including children. He now will be made to account for his crimes," said Prosecutor Karen McDonald in a statement. "It's never easy for sexual abuse victims to tell their stories. The courage of the victims who came forward against Levran helped prevent this predator from abusing future victims. Our community is safer because of their bravery."
Daily Mail
23-04-2025
- Daily Mail
Unlikely excuse of Michigan man, 21, arrested for shooting 23 year-old fiancée dead
A Michigan man, 21, offered a dubious excuse for allegedly shooting his 23-year-old fiancée to death, according to police who arrested him. Before being taken into custody last week, Michael Devon Webb claimed on a 911 call that while he was cleaning his gun, he accidentally shot Rachel Renee Wooten, the mother of their six-month-old child. The Oakland County Sheriff's Office said in a release that 'the evidence did not support' Webb's explanation. The April 15 shooting took place at the young family's home in Highland Township, a small suburb about 45 miles northwest of Detroit. Wooten was found dead inside the home with a single gunshot wound to the neck from close range. Webb, also in the house when police arrived, had a non-fatal gunshot wound, which he claimed was from the same bullet that killed Wooten, according to the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office. The baby was also found in the home but was unharmed. Webb has been charged with first-degree murder in what the county prosecutor described as a 'domestic violence death.' 'Rachel Wooten was just 23 and a mother of an infant,' Prosecutor Karen D. McDonald said in a statement. 'Her entire life was ahead of her, until it was ended in what appears to be a domestic violence tragedy. She won't be there for her child or other loved ones in her life. I'm committed to bringing her killer to justice.' Sheriff Michael Bouchard described Webb's excuses as a 'false offered narrative' and praised his detectives. 'I am proud of our investigators and team that responded to a tragic death and unraveled a false offered narrative to hold an individual accountable,' Bouchard said. Webb was booked into the Oakland County Jail before being arraigned Friday before Magistrate Judge Andra Richardson in 52-1 District Court in Novi, Michigan. Judge Richardson remanded him to custody without bond and is scheduled to appear in court again for a probable cause hearing on April 30. If convicted, Webb faces a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. Heather Wooten, the younger sister of Rachel Wooten, organized a GoFundMe to help get custody of Aspen, Rachel's baby. 'My sister was murdered by her fiancé on April 15th, 2025,' Heather wrote. 'Just 6 months after she welcomed sweet baby Aspen into this world, her life was taken from her.' Heather described Rachel as 'the best sissy in the entire world, my rock, and my best friend.' 'I am currently fighting for custody of sweet baby Aspen, who is currently in custody of the incarcerated father's mother. My sister wanted me to take care of Aspen if anything happened to her and I would appreciate any help through this process,' Heather continued. As of late Wednesday morning, the GoFundMe has raised just over $3,400 toward the $5,000 goal. A member of the Wooten family declined to speak to
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Yahoo
Parents sentenced to probation in 2 separate cases after sons shot themselves with guns
Parents charged last year under Michigan's new firearms safe storage law were sentenced this week in separate cases in metro Detroit — one case in Macomb County, the other in Oakland County. Theo Nichols, of Warren, the first person in Macomb County charged under the new law, was sentenced to probation, according to online county circuit court records. He pleaded guilty in February after his young son accidentally shot himself in the face with his father's unlocked and loaded gun last year. Nichols pleaded guilty to a felony firearms safe storage violation and an added count of fourth-degree child abuse, a misdemeanor. Four other charges, including second-degree child abuse, were dismissed by prosecutors at sentencing Tuesday, according to court records. Nichols was sentenced to two years of probation and received credit for 244 days served in the county jail on the firearms safe storage violation. He was sentenced to six months of probation on the fourth-degree child abuse charge, with the sentences to run concurrently, according to court records. His attorney, Noel Erinjeri, a county assistant public defender, had no comment. More: Eastpointe dad sentenced to probation after son, 3, shoots himself in hand with gun Last year, Warren police said the boy's mother, then 33, and Nichols, then 56, were home at the time of the April 19 shooting with a Glock 40-caliber handgun that Nichols bought on the street in Detroit a couple of months prior for personal protection. Police and fire crews were sent to an apartment in the Cove on 10 apartment complex at Hoover and 10 Mile roads after receiving a 911 call from the mother, who said her child had accidentally shot himself. They found the boy, 8, with a gunshot wound to his face and head area. The boy survived, the county prosecutor's office stated in a release in May. Three other children were in the apartment at the time of the shooting — a girl, then age 6, and twins, then 6 months old. At the time, police said, they were all children of Nichols and the mother, and they were not hurt. At a news conference after the shooting, Warren Police Lt. John Gajewski said it appeared the boy used a chair to get to the gun. Executive Lt. Scott Isaacson said it was stored on top of an upper kitchen cabinet. Gajewski said there were no safes, lockboxes or gun locks found in the residence. Isaacson said one shot was fired. Nichols had a prior felony drug-related conviction, police said, preventing him from buying a gun legally. They said the gun was reported lost in 2022 out of Westland. On Monday, two Oakland County parents were sentenced to probation for a firearms safe storage violation after a 9-year-old boy shot himself in the hand in August, according to a news release Tuesday from the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office. Jacob Gean, 28, and Jessie Gean, 29, both of Madison Heights, were sentenced in Oakland County Circuit Court. Prosecutors indicated Jessie Gean's son shot himself with Jacob Gean's gun, which was left unattended in a jacket pocket at their home. The Geans were sentenced to two years of probation in addition to a few days they each served in the Oakland County Jail. Their other sentencing conditions include not using or possessing any firearm or other deadly weapons; no assaultive or threatening behavior, and performing community service, according to online court records. The records indicate the Geans pleaded no contest in February. Messages were left for the Geans' attorneys, who could not be immediately reached for comment Tuesday. Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald stated in the release that she hopes the law and cases like this "will encourage people to take a few minutes and confirm their guns are stored safely. Gun violence is a public health crisis and a leading cause of death among children. It only takes 10 seconds to install a cable lock or a few minutes to properly secure a firearm. Those few moments could prevent an accidental injury or death." The first person in Michigan charged with violating the law — Michael Tolbert, of Flint — also appeared in court Tuesday. His daughter, then 2, was shot in the head on Valentine's Day 2024 — the day after the law took effect. Tolbert, 45, is facing nine charges, including first-degree child abuse, in Genesee County Circuit Court. Online court records indicate a final pretrial hearing was held Tuesday and an offer was placed on the record. While a May 7 trial is set, the online court records indicate, there may be a "possible resolution prior to trial." The girl, Skye McBride, is "doing so much better," according to a February update posted in an online fundraiser. Contact Christina Hall: chall@ Follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @challreporter. Support local journalism. Subscribe to the Free Press. Submit a letter to the editor at This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Parents get probation in 2 cases after sons shot themselves with guns
CBS News
27-03-2025
- CBS News
Berkley man accused of coercing teen in exchange for vape products, prosecutor says
A Berkley man is facing an additional charge of criminal sexual conduct involving coercing sex from a teen in exchange for vape products, the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office reported. "The facts alleged in this case are every parent's worst nightmare," Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald said in the statement. "This adult defendant appears to have preyed upon the vulnerabilities of a teenager to coerce sex from a victim who wasn't old enough and in a position to consent." Darren Joshua Bradford, age 24, was charged with criminal sexual conduct-third degree, an offense punishable by up to 15 years in prison, as a result of the incident. The report said Bradford was "known to provide vapes, marijuana, and alcohol to high school students through Snapchat," which is a social messaging app. The prosecutor's office further alleges that he told a 15-year-old female that he would not sell her vape products unless they had sex. Incidents of sexual contact are alleged to have occurred both at a home in Bloomfield Township, which is in Oakland County, and in the defendant's car. This case is in addition to two charges of third-degree criminal sexual conduct that were recently filed in Wayne County against Bradford. "Police believe there may be other victims. Anyone with information about other incidents should contact their local police," the Oakland County press release said.
