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Murder Up 300 Percent, Attempted Murder Up 89 Percent in Washtenaw County Since 2021
by P.D. Lesko
According to Washtenaw County Trial Court records, between June 19, 2020 and July 19, 2021, five people in Washtenaw County were arrested and charged with murder, including Open Murder, Felony Murder and 2nd Degree Murder.…
Crime Report: Over Last 30 Days, in Ypsi and Ypsi Twp. 498 Crimes Reported, Including Six Murders
Editor: With this column, The Ann Arbor Independent launches Crime Reports for Washtenaw County cities and townships. The weekly Crime Report will also include Trial Court prosecutions of Capital Felonies charged by the County Prosecutor,…
County Prosecutor Criticized Sheriff Candidate’s Ethics and “Disservice to Victims”
by P.D. Lesko
In July 2022, Derrick Jackson celebrated the County Commissioners' award of $1.2 million in public money to non-profit Supreme Felons, Inc. According to documents, emails and text messages shared with A2Indy, the…
Sheriff and Ypsi PD Partially Responsible For Recent Double Homicide, Critics Claim
by P.D. Lesko
Court records show that in Mar. 2023, 14A District Court Magistrate Elisha V. Fink issued a bench warrant for Tamar L.L. Young. Young had been charged with a felony weapons crime in Aug. 2022. On June 29, 2023, 19-year-old…
Contrary to His Own Rhetoric, County Prosecutor Charges Sixteen-Year-Old Accused of Murder as an Adult
Updated 7/1/23: The name of the alleged shooter was added.
by P.D. Lesko
County Prosecutor Eli Savit has charged 16-year-old Kendall Newbern with open murder in connection with the death of an 18-year-old man on June 21. When…
Ricky Dewayne McCain Didn’t Act Alone in the Murder of Jude Walton–He Had Help
by P.D. Lesko
According to Trial Court case files, on April 20, 2005 Hilary J. was a rising senior at the University of Michigan. With two roommates, she rented an apartment at 832 Packard Ave. On that evening, Hilary was in her…
County’s Chief Asst. Prosecutor Owes Thousands in Campaign Finance Fines Related to Failed Run
This article was made possible by donations to the Ann Arbor Independent FOIA Fund. Click here to donate.
by P.D. Lesko
Campaign finance statements show that Washtenaw County's Chief Asst. Prosecutor Victoria…
Assailant Who Allegedly Tried to Stab Local Restauranteur Scheduled For Competency Hearing
by P.D. Lesko
On Nov. 3, 2022 Javon Trevail Williams appeared before 15th District Court judge the Honorable Miriam A. Perry. At that hearing, it was decided that Williams, who is currently being held on a $150,000 cash bond, will be…
Judge Miriam Perry Orders Man Who Allegedly Attacked Restauranteur Sava Lelcaj Farah Held on $150,000 Bond
by P.D. Lesko
In an email sent the day his wife was allegedly attacked by a knife-wielding man in downtown Ann Arbor, William Farah told County Prosecutor Eli Savit, "LOCK HIM UP. Don’t be soft on him. None of this ‘cashless bond’…
Michigan Bar Association Needs to End the Legal Careers of Judges and Lawyers Who are Domestic Abusers
by Sterling George
A recent video showed Jason Kolkema, a licensed attorney in the state of Michigan and nominee for a judicial candidate for the Circuit Court judge in Muskegon County, allegedly whipping his girlfriend with his belt.…
