Three members of a Brandon Township family have pleaded guilty to charges related to an attack on local teenagers.
After a half-day of testimony on Sept. 12 in the courtroom of Sixth Judicial Circuit Court Chief Judge Wendy Potts, Bryan Hanley, 44, pleaded guilty to two counts of assault with intent to commit great bodily harm less than murder. In exchange for the guilty plea, two charges of assault with a deadly weapon were dismissed.
Assault with intent to commit great bodily harm less than murder is a charge that is punishable by up to 10 years in prison, but under the plea agreement, Oakland County Sheriff’s Office Detective Dale Brown said it is likely Hanley will serve 10 months in the Oakland County Jail, and have three years of probation. Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 19.
Bryan Hanley’s son, Aaron Hanley, 18, pleaded guilty to one count of felonious assault and one count of malicious destruction of property, less than $1,000, during a pre-trial conference on Sept. 7 in front of Potts. With no prior criminal history, he is eligible to be sentenced under the Holmes Youthful Training Act and will have an opportunity to complete three years of probation and have his record expunged. He will be sentenced Oct. 12.
Aaron Hanley’s mother, Cheryl Kempf , 41, pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of disorderly person, a 93-day misdemeanor, Aug. 8 in front of 52-2 District Court Judge Joseph Fabrizio. She will be sentenced Sept. 29.
According to police reports, on April 30, a 19-year-old man from Holly and 18-year-old man from Clarkston contacted Aaron Hanley and said they wanted to meet him at the Ortonville Village Skate Park to talk to him about a 16-year-old Clarkston boy Aaron Hanley had beaten the day before. The 18- and 19-year-olds arrived with several young women. Aaron Hanley met them with several teens as well as his girlfriend, and suggested they go to Bloomer Park #3 on State Park Road because the Skate Park is patrolled regularly by police and no one is allowed in the park after closing time.
Both groups drove to the state park, and prior to their arrival, Bryan Hanley and Cheryl Kempf were contacted and drove to the park in their white minivan.
When the Clarkston group arrived and drove to the back of the park, Aaron and Bryan Hanley blocked the exit with their vehicles to prevent escape by the Clarkston teens.
Witnesses told police Bryan Hanley jumped out of the minivan and brandished a large wrench. He called the 18-year-old Clarkston man, who is black, a racial slur before striking him with the wrench. When he was on the ground, he was again beaten with the wrench, fists and feet until he was able to get up to flee. At that time, Bryan Hanley threw the wrench at him.
Aaron Hanley got out of the car he was in and wielded a wooden bat, with which he struck the 19-year-old Holly man in the head and then proceeded to punch and kick the victim while he was on the ground.
Cheryl Kempf punched one of the girls from Clarkston in the face, then ordered the pitbull terrier that she and Bryan Hanley had brought with them to attack the victims. The pitbull chased the victim that Aaron Hanley struck in the head to his car. The man was able to get in a car without being attacked by the dog.