Latest news with #OaklandCountyProsecutor'sOffice
Miami Herald
10-07-2025
- Miami Herald
Homeowner fatally shoots teen garage intruder, MI cops say. Will he be charged?
A homeowner in Michigan fatally shot a 17-year-old boy accused of breaking into his garage, authorities say. Two days after the July 8 shooting in White Lake, an investigation into whether the homeowner is justified for his actions is ongoing. White Lake Township Chief of Police Daniel Keller said in a news release the homeowner was alerted through his video surveillance system that seven individuals had broken into his detached garage. He exited his home and fired multiple shots at the accused intruders, who all fled the scene, police said. Officers later learned two 17-year-olds — one at a hospital and one near the hospital — had been shot, Lt. Matthew Ivory said in a news briefing streamed by WDIV. First responders provided lifesaving care to the teens, but one died from their injuries, Ivory said. Police said two arrests were made, including a juvenile who was released to their parents. The second arrested individual, an adult, has 'pending issues with other jurisdictions that he will have to take care of' before being released, Ivory said. The Oakland County Prosecutor's Office will review the police department's findings to determine if the homeowner will be charged. 'It's hard to give advice on that,' Ivory said when asked about homeowners protecting their property. 'You do have the right to protect your life and I just hope it doesn't come to that. We want to be a safe community and we ask that people stay safe. Obviously as soon as you realize something is going on, the faster we know, the faster we can get there.' Will homeowner be charged? What experts say Experts believe the homeowner could face charges, including the possibility of second-degree murder. The Self-Defense Act, also called the Stand Your Ground law, allows someone to use lethal force to defend themselves. The Castle Doctrine, meanwhile, allows a person to protect themselves with lethal force inside their home. Making matters complicated in the White Lake incident, defense attorney Jim Makowski told WXYZ, is that the shooting took place in a detached garage away from the home. 'Now, if you've got a detached garage, that's outside the curtilage of your house,' Makowski told the news outlet. 'It's not attached to your house. If it was an attached garage and someone was breaking in with a doorway into the house, again that's part of the dwelling.' Only the homeowner fired shots in the White Lake shooting, police said. It's unclear if any of the accused intruders were armed. Former police officer Bill Kucyk said the homeowner is not justified in the shooting because there is no evidence suggesting he was physically threatened, according to WJBK. Charlie Langton, WJBK's legal analyst, said the law does not allow someone 'to use deadly force to protect their property.' A charge of second-degree murder is likely, according to Langton, because he confronted the suspects outside his home. White Lake is about a 40-mile drive northwest from Detroit.
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Yahoo
Police: Teen killed after White Lake Twp. homeowner shot at group who entered his garage
A 17-year-old was killed and another was hospitalized after an Oakland County homeowner opened fire on a group of people who police say entered the homeowner's garage early on Tuesday, July 8. Around 1 a.m., seven individuals entered the detached garage of a residence in the 9000 block of Mandon Drive in White Lake Township, according to a news release from the White Lake Township police department. The homeowner, who had been alerted by a video surveillance system, exited the house and fired multiple shots toward the group. All seven fled the scene on foot, White Lake Township police said. Oakland County Central Dispatch later notified White Lake Township officers that two people with gunshot wounds had been located in Commerce Township — one at Huron Valley Hospital and another near the hospital. One of the 17-year-olds died from his injuries, police said. The other is in stable condition and remains hospitalized as of Tuesday afternoon. More: Warren man to spend decades in prison after killing roommate, hiding his body Police said two people suspected of involvement in the garage break-in were arrested, and officers continue to search for other suspects. It remains unclear whether the homeowner could face charges. Michigan's Self-Defense Act allows individuals to use deadly force without first trying to retreat, as long as they are not committing a crime and are somewhere they have a legal right to be. The law, outlined in MCL 780.972, permits deadly force if a person honestly and reasonably believes it is necessary to prevent imminent death, great bodily harm or sexual assault. A related statute, MCL 780.951 presumes the use of force is justified if someone unlawfully enters a home, business or occupied vehicle. The case is under investigation and will be submitted to the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office for review, police said. Anyone with information on this incident is asked to call 248-698-4404. Nour Rahal is a trending and breaking news reporter. Email her: nrahal@ Follow her on Twitter @nrahal1. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: White Lake Twp. homeowner fatally shoots teen, injures another
Toronto Sun
30-06-2025
- Toronto Sun
Teacher's careless whispers about sex romps with teen brings charges
Get the latest from Brad Hunter straight to your inbox Teacher Jocelyn Sanroman told a pal about sex romps with teen. OCPO Teacher Jocelyn Sanroman allegedly couldn't resist telling a colleague about her lurid sexual encounters with a 16-year-old male student. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Her shocked fellow teacher notified administrators and the cops. Now, those careless whispers have landed the 26-year-old Michigan teacher in hot water. The Oakland County Prosecutor's Office announced charges for the former Pontiac teacher who's accused of having a sexual relationship with a student. Sanroman, previously taught at Oakside Prep Academy in Waterford Township. She has now been charged with three counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct, officials said. Third-degree criminal sexual conduct is punishable by up to 15 years in prison. The sexual relationship allegedly occurred in 2023. 'This defendant is accused of using her position of authority to exploit a minor victim,' Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald said in a statement. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'These allegations represent the ultimate breach of trust placed in educators by parents and the community. As a former teacher myself, I applaud the teacher who contacted police about this situation, protecting other students from further exploitation.' Florida teacher Sara Jacas, after and before. OCSP/ FACEBOOK Meanwhile, for Florida math teacher and married mom Sarah Jacas, 32, the equation allegedly equalled perversion. Jacas is accused of raping a 14-year-old boy in her class repeatedly over many months. She was arrested on June 23 and charged with battery, molestation and statutory rape. Cops say she created an Instagram (called Dirtytalk) account so the two could communicate. The boy, who is now 16, went to the cops on June 10 with the sickening allegations that his math teacher had sexually assaulted him. He had been a student at Corner Lake Middle School. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. He told cops that the pair allegedly began having lunch together in her classroom during the 2022-23 school year. The young student allegedly struggled to fit in with the 'right crowd' and was lonely, police said. The alleged victim said the two grew close during the lunches, but slowly, she began to groom and isolate the boy from other students. Their lunchtime friendship began to express itself in physical ways. HUBBY WAS NOT PLEASED: Sara Jacas. FACEBOOK At first, it was just hugs and kisses on the cheek, but that extended to texting outside school. Once the boy's mother caught them texting at 1 a.m. Mom thought the late-night messaging was 'abnormal.' She allegedly confessed to the boy: 'I just had sex with my husband, and it wasn't the best… I imagined it was you.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. One week before March Break in 2023, the boy revealed that Jacas pulled the curtains in her classroom and the pair had sexual intercourse. They had sex every day afterwards. But the pair were soon caught out when Jacas' hubby learned about his wife's raunchy antics, an affidavit said. He posed as a his wife contacted the teen boy on the secret account. '[Jacas] called [the alleged victim] from an unknown number and told [the alleged victim] her husband found out about their relationship and for [the alleged victim] to 'lay low' because her husband [was angry],' police said. On June 16, in the presence of detectives, he called Jacas. She has not entered a plea and the school said she would not be returning to work. TEACHER LAURA CARON: Did she have boy's baby? A New Jersey teacher has been arrested and charged with first-degree aggravated sexual assault, second-degree sexual assault, and endangering the welfare of a child. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. According to cops, Laura Caron, 34, began sexually abusing the victim when he was just 11 years old. The abuse allegedly continued over a four-year period, during which time Caron was a Grade 5 teacher at Middle Township Elementary School. Shockingly, the alleged victim was a student in Caron's class, and began living with her in 2016. The rationale for the boy moving in with Caron is unclear. In a probable cause statement, Caron gave birth to a daughter in 2019 when the boy was 13 and she was 27. The victim's sister told cops that he claimed to be the father. PREDATOR? Teacher Laura Caron. 'These allegations are deeply disturbing, particularly given the position of trust the defendant held in relation to the victim,' said Cape May County Prosecutor Jeffrey H. Sutherland. Caron, who was arrested in January and later released on bail, faces up to 40 years in prison if convicted on all charges. She is scheduled to appear in court on July 16 and has not yet entered a plea. bhunter@ @HunterTOSun World World Toronto Maple Leafs Canada World
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Embattled Oakland County judge asked to recuse herself in prosecutor's cases
The Oakland County Prosecutor's Office began to pull its cases from under the thumb of embattled District Judge Kirsten Nielsen Hartig on the morning of June 10 amid fallout from a formal complaint issued by the state's judicial oversight body earlier this month. During Hartig's June 10 docket at the 52-4 District Court in Troy, the prosecutor's office — which is named in some accusations in the complaint — motioned for Hartig to recuse herself from its first two cases of the day. Hartig declined to do so but was later overruled by her chief judge. So began a dance of repeating the motion on other cases tied to the prosecutor's office and Hartig adjourning them to give the chief judge time to rule, as defendants went back to jail cells or workdays. There was no immediate indication that morning that Chief Judge Travis Reeds would rule differently on the adjourned cases, though Hartig noted from the bench that he had not reviewed a transcript of the hearing with her reasoning for not recusing herself. Bill Mullan, public information officer for Oakland County, confirmed the chief judge's decisions, which attorneys had relayed to Hartig during her docket. Mullan said that the cases would be reassigned at random to other district court judges. More: Complaint: Oakland County Judge Kirsten Nielsen Hartig created 'climate of fear' Reeds previously said Hartig should be temporarily removed from her docket amid the oversight case, and the county reported he made a request to do so. Hartig has been under fire in recent years, both by Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald and a former court administrator who got a $100,000 settlement in a whistleblower and unlawful termination lawsuit tied to Hartig. Then on June 4, the oversight body, the Judicial Tenure Commission, issued a rare public complaint against the judge. The complaint effectively launches a court-like process that, at its most severe, could result in the Michigan Supreme Court suspending or removing the judge. Key in the complaint: The commission attempted to redact, but left visible in some formats, that a psychological evaluation of the judge in 2024 deemed her at the time to be ''unsafe to practice' due to disruptive behavior and personality dysfunction.' What was deemed at risk was not immediately clear. The commission openly accused Hartig of misdeeds, including creating 'a climate of fear' among workers at the courthouse, improperly dismissing multiple cases without prejudice due to a grudge with the prosecutors tied to scheduling, and mistreating that former court administrator. More: Authority got psych report saying Oakland Judge Hartig was 'unsafe to practice' months ago A spokesperson for the judge, Daniel Cherrin of Royal Oak-based public affairs and communications firm North Coast Strategies, declined to comment on the mental health aspect but issued a statement at the time calling the commission process 'flawed." He said Hartig has patiently waited for the chance to address the allegations against her. In court on June 10, Hartig spoke out against the recusal motions to start. Her docket was underway shortly after 9 a.m., with the judge making mostly default judgments in landlord-tenant issues until a case involving the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office came up. Assistant Prosecutor Bob Zivian came to the podium and when given the chance said for the first time a statement he'd be repeating for numerous cases: that as 'everyone' in the courtroom knew, the Judicial Tenure Commission issued a complaint, that her former and current chief judges were among complainants who could testify against her, and that it was clear the office could not get a fair hearing in the courtroom. 'Respectfully,' he asked her to recuse herself. Hartig, who had nodded at times during the soliloquy, responded using 'respectfully' herself. She said that the prosecutor's office was aware of the oversight investigation before the formal complaint was issued, and argued there had been no problems or concerns raised. She said, in the back-and-forth across two cases, that those in the prosecutor's office issued grievances against her and that she had made attorney grievances against them — specifically McDonald and Assistant Prosecutor Jeffrey Hall — within the last several years. She was unaware of where her attorney grievances landed but said the only thing that changed was the public nature of the complaint against her. Zivian, however, said there were aspects of the complaint that his office was not aware of before. Taylor judge called chief judge names, flipped off security cameras, complaint says 'No teeth': Cases of 2 embattled Michigan judges highlight concerns with accountability Zivian stepped into a private room several times, including with one individual's defense attorney and Chief Public Defender Paulette Loftin. He ultimately relayed to Hartig that he had appealed to Chief Judge Reeds by Zoom and the chief judge ruled in his favor. Between the back-and-forth of the attorneys and the judge, and the judge checking her computer for responses from Reeds, it was said that the chief judge believed Zivian would need to make his motion on every single case. And so, he did. Hartig continued to deny the request, sometimes elaborating for defendants who hadn't been in the courtroom. Defense attorneys were given the chance to weigh in, and then Hartig adjourned their cases so Zivian didn't have to repeatedly jump on a Zoom call after each one to get a ruling from the chief judge. He could do that during the one or two-week adjournment, she said. Zivian was still repeating his refrain for various cases as the clock ticked toward noon. Following one such hearing, Sterling Heights-based attorney Janet Szpond bemoaned that her client's case might have been dismissed if it weren't for the recusal matter. She didn't know the ins and outs discussed in court regarding Hartig's complaint but said her client was accused of failing to return a rental car and was due in court for his preliminary examination. She believed a witness hadn't shown up, so she thought the matter may have been dismissed on June 10. Instead, her client confirmed with her that he could go back to work and jogged off. 'It's just extremely inconvenient,' Szpond said. Oakland County Chief Assistant Prosecutor David Williams said in a call along with his office's public information officer, Jeff Wattrick, that while matters were still evolving, it was not believed there would be great delays in the court system due to the maneuver. He also said Hartig's complaint involved more than just the dismissals involving his office, and his office was unaware of that previously. But the complaint also affirmed the office's stance regarding the judge's bias against them. Wattrick, in a statement, said that people are entitled to cases decided 'based on the law rather than personal animosity.' 'Our only goal in this matter is to ensure justice — that victims' stories are heard and that The People always receive a fair hearing before the court,' he said. Cherrin, Hartig's spokesperson, said that the prosecutor's office had appeared in front of the judge hundreds of times before and that she continues to sit on the bench. He pointed to her comments on the motion made in court. Hartig was given 14 days to issue a formal response to the June 4 complaint. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Embattled Oakland County judge asked to recuse self in multiple cases
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- 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.
