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NEWS UPDATES

Monday, April 30, 2018

Man Charged in I-75 Fatal Car Crash Killing Two Women

Prosecutor Kym Worthy has charged Douglas Muller, 25, of Royal Oak, in connection with a fatal car crash that occurred on June 3, 2017 on southbound I-75 and Mack in Detroit. It is alleged that Muller caused the crash that killed Shelby Seyburn, 22, of Commerce Township and Sydney Zaleski, 23 of White Lake. The women were in the back of a Jeep that was struck as a result of a chain reaction crash caused by Muller's reckless driving.Muller has been charged with two counts of Reckless Driving Causing Death, two counts of Manslaughter, and two counts of Moving Violation Causing Death.*On Friday, May 27, 2018, the court informed the assistant prosecutor handling the Muller case that the defendant would have to be arraigned on Saturday, April 28, 2018, because the necessary paperwork had not been processed in time for the Friday docket. However, WCPO has confirmed Muller was arraigned last Friday before 36th District Court Magistrate Laura Echartea. The probable cause conference is scheduled for May 7, 2018 at 8:30 a.m.; the preliminary examination is scheduled for May 14, 2018 at 9:00 a.m. Both hearings are before Judge Kenneth King in 36th District Court. The defendant received a $20,000/10% bond.

*The charges are allegations and defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Detroit Man Charged in Paintball Case

Prosecutor Kym Worthy has charged Davon R. Williams, 22 (DOB: 03/24/1996), of Detroit, in connection with a paintball gun incident. On April 25, 2018 at 8:37 p.m. it is alleged that Williams was in the area of Cooper and Moffat Streets in Detroit when a Detroit police captain in an unmarked police car observed approximately 50 people armed with pneumatic weapons* having a paint ball battle in the street. The captain activated his lights to identify himself as a law enforcement official and exited the car. It is alleged that Williams fired shots in the captain's direction striking his unmarked City of Detroit car. The captain arrested Williams at the scene without incident.

Today Defendant Williams has been charged with two 93 day misdemeanors, Assault, and Propelling an Object at Passenger Vehicle.** He is expected to be arraigned this afternoon at 2:30 p.m. in 36th District Court.


*The pneumatic weapon in this case was an air propelled paint gun rifle.
**The charges are allegations and defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Tuesday, May 1, 2018

Detroit Man Charged in Domestic Violence and Non-Fatal Shooting Incident

Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy has charged Theron Dewayne Rutledge, 57, (DOB: 11/17/1960), of Detroit, in connection with the non-fatal shooting of Zakiya Johnson, 18, of Ypsilanti. The defendant and the victim were acquainted.

On April 29, 2018, at approximately 1:55 a.m., Detroit police officers responded to call of a shooting in the 1200 block of 25th Street in Detroit. Upon arrival, the officers found the victim on the floor with a gunshot wound to her leg. It is alleged that when the victim arrived at the defendant's house, Rutledge grabbed her by her hair, struck her with a handgun and shot her in the leg. The victim was able to crawl into the next room and call 911 for assistance.

Rutledge has been charged with Discharge of a Firearm in a Building, Assault with Intent to Do Great Bodily Harm, Felonious Assault, three counts of Felony Firearm and Domestic Violence*.

Rutledge was arraigned in 36th District Court at 2:30 this afternoon before Magistrate Millicent Sherman. The probable cause conference is scheduled for May 11, 2018; the preliminary examination is scheduled for May 18, 2018. Both hearings are before Judge Lydia Nance Adams in 36th District Court. The defendant received a $50,000 cash/surety bond.

*The charges are allegations and defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Detroit Man Charged in Fatal Car Crash

Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy has charged Rasean Dannel Preston, 31 (DOB: 01/08/1987), of Detroit, in connection with the fatal car crash that killed Nakiesha Johnson, 43, of Detroit, and severely injured three other occupants of a vehicle.

On April 28, 2018, at approximately 1:50 a.m., Detroit police officers responded to the area of Greenfield Road and Joy Road in Detroit. Upon arrival, the police officers observed two vehicles in a car crash. The defendant was alone in his vehicle, which had significant front end damage.

The second vehicle, driven by a 20-year-old female, with three other occupants, had damage consistent with a collision into a utility pole. It is alleged that the defendant's vehicle struck the 20-year-old driver's vehicle from behind at a high rate of speed and, as a result, her vehicle struck the utility pole.

All four occupants of the 20-year-old female's vehicle were transported to a local hospital for treatment of their injuries. Ms. Johnson, however, succumbed to her injuries at the hospital. Preston was also transported to a local hospital for treatment of his injuries.

Preston has been charged with Murder - Second Degree, one count of Operating While Intoxicated Causing Death, one count of Reckless Driving Causing Death, three counts of Operating While Intoxicated Causing Serious Injury, three counts of Reckless Driving Causing Serious Injury, Operating While Intoxicated, and Operating With a High Blood Alcohol Content of .17 or above.

Preston was arraigned on April 30, 2018 before 36th District Court Magistrate Bari Blake Wood, and was remanded to jail. The probable cause conference is scheduled for May 14, 2018 at 8:30 a.m.; the preliminary examination is scheduled for May 21, 2018 at 1:30 p.m. Both hearings are before Judge William McConico in 36th District Court. The defendant was remanded to jail.

*The charges are allegations unless and until the defendant is convicted.

Thursday, May 3, 2018

Former Wayne County Employee Charged in Embezzlement and Larceny Scheme

Prosecutor Kym Worthy has charged Kurt Thomas Eschmann, 34 (DOB: 06/12/1983), of Canton, in connection with an embezzlement and larceny scheme while he was employed as a Telecommunications Manager for the Wayne County Department of Technology. In this capacity, he was responsible for ordering electronic devices for Wayne County. His criminal activities were uncovered as the result of an independent performance audit conducted by the Wayne County Office of the Legislative Auditor General. Defendant Eschmann was employed with the County from April 1, 2013 through April 30, 2016, when he resigned. The Wayne County Prosecutor's Office conducted the investigation of this time-consuming and complex case.

It is alleged that from April 2014 through April 2016, the defendant ordered over 200 cell phones and Ipads under the County's communications contract and kept the devices for himself. He sold some of the devices on the internet and others were turned over to Sprint for credit on his personal cell phone bill. The retail value of the stolen devices was over $90,000.

Defendant Eschmann has been charged with one count each of the following charges: Embezzlement over $50,000 a 15 year felony; Using a Computer to Commit a Felony, a 10 year felony; and Larceny by Conversion $20,000 or more, a 10 year felony*.

Eschmann was arraigned this morning 10:30 a.m. at 36th District Court before Magistrate Jeffrey Kleparek in 36th District Court. The probable cause conference is scheduled for May 10, 2018 at 8:30 a.m.; the preliminary examination is scheduled for May 15, 2018 at 9:00 a.m. Both hearings are before Judge Kenneth King in 36th District Court. The defendant received a $10,000/10% bond.

*The charges are allegations and defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

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