A suspect in two local break-ins failed to appear in court last week, and a child pornography suspect’s court case has been stalled because he has failed to hire an attorney.
Michael Lewis Wheeler, 46, of Waterford, was apprehended Nov. 15 and later charged with two counts of home invasion (first degree and second degree) in connection with incidents on Snow Apple Drive and Waldon Road in Independence Township.
Wheeler was scheduled to appear before 52-2 District Judge Michael Batchik on Dec. 10.
According to Oakland County Assistant Prosecutor Gina Schmidt, Batchik issued a bench warrant for Wheeler’s arrest, and the suspect will forfeit his $5,000 bond.
David N. Benton, 44, of Springfield Township, did appear before Batchik on Dec. 9, but said he was having trouble getting enough money to hire an attorney.
Benton was arraigned Nov. 5 on two counts of second degree criminal sexual conduct (involving children under age 13), eight counts of possession of child-sexually-abusive material, eight counts of using a computer to commit a crime and one count of possession of marijuana.
Benton continues to be held at the Oakland County Jail on a bond of $40,000. Another pre-trial conference has been scheduled before new 52-2 District Judge Kelley Kostin for Jan. 20, 2005.
Also appearing in court Dec. 9 was Brian L. Wylie, 26, of Clarkston, for a preliminary exam on two charges of larceny from a vehicle and one charge of resisting and obstructing a police officer. The case stemmed from a Nov. 6 incident in Springfield Township which required two deputies to use Taser darts to subdue Wylie before his arrest.
Defense attorney Michael J. Harrison said he intends to argue his case in the exam, designed to determine whether there is enough evidence for a full trial. Because the case came late in the day, however, both defense and prosecution agreed to an adjournment to Jan. 11, 2005.