A Pontiac teen recently acquitted of homicide is headed to prison for related convictions of armed robbery and using a firearm to commit the crime.

Sentenced Oct. 13 by Oakland County Circuit Judge Daniel O’Brien, Christian Harris, 19, will spend 13-50 years behind bars for the 2023 armed robbery of Armani Terrell Baker, 22, of Waterford.

As previously reported, a jury found Harris not guilty of first-degree homicide in the death of Baker, who was found fatally shot in the front seat of a Ford Fusion with the doors open, on Hammond Street in Pontiac.

Harris got an additional two years behind bars for felony firearm in connection with the armed robbery.

Harris was 17 years old at the time of the incident and charged as an adult. His first trial ended in a mistrial last year after the jury deliberated for three days and failed to reach a unanimous verdict. The retrial concluded this past Sept. 8.

The Oakland Press has reached out to the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office and the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office with questions about any further legal activity or investigation regarding Baker’s homicide but hasn’t heard back yet.

The other man charged for related offenses, Jeremiah Rodriguez — age 18 at the time of the incident — made a deal with prosecutors and pleaded guilty in September to an added count of accessory after the fact. Charges of conspiracy to commit armed robbery and possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony were dismissed. Last month, O’Brien sentenced Rodriguez to 14 days in jail with credit for 14 days served, and three years probation.

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An 82-year-old Pontiac man died Oct. 10 from injuries he sustained four days earlier when he was hit by a truck while crossing the street, officials said.

The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office identified the man as Larry Gene Howard, and said he was struck by a 2012 Chevrolet Colorado pickup truck near the intersection of Walton Boulevard and Baldwin Avenue in Pontiac, shortly after 12:30 p.m. on Oct. 6.

A 68-year-old Pontiac man was driving the truck southbound on Baldwin Avenue and turning right onto Walton Boulevard when Howard was hit, the sheriff’s office said.

Howard was transported to an area hospital where he died Friday. The incident remains under investigation by the Crash Reconstruction Unit, the sheriff’s office said.

An Afghan refugee accused of stabbing a caseworker in Orion Township early this year has a trial date in Oakland County Circuit Court.

Jury selection is scheduled to begin Feb. 2, 2026 for the case against Gul Nabi Rahmati, 34, of Dearborn Heights, charged with assault with intent to murder — punishable by up to life in prison — and assault with a dangerous weapon — a four-year felony. Rahmati allegedly stabbed Zubair Mansuori at Mansuori’s home on Jan. 22.

According to the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office, Rahmati came to Mansuori’s home where he was met by Mansuori, a caseworker for the social services non-profit Samaritas. Rahmati, who was one of Mansuori’s clients, allegedly stabbed Mansuori multiple times then tried to attack another man who came to Mansuori’s aid.

Rahmati fled the scene but turned himself in at the Dearborn Heights Police Department later that day, the prosecutor’s office said.

The prosecutor’s office said Rahmati and Mansuori are Afghan nationals and are in the United States legally.

Earlier this year, Rahmati underwent a court-ordered psychiatric evaluation and was found to be competent for trial.

As previously reported, Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard said a possible motive related to religion was being considered.

Rahmati is in the Oakland County Jail with bond set at $350,000. Court records state Judge Jacob Cunningham will preside over the trial, which is expected to take three to four days.

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The case against a 33-year-old Texas man accused of human trafficking and other crimes in Oakland County has been bound over to circuit court for possible trial following a Sept.30 preliminary exam in Southfield’s 46th District Court.

Randolph Lewis was arrested July 21 in Southfield. The case against him unfolded when — according to police — officers responded to the Quality Inn on Telegraph Road for a malicious destruction of property complaint, and spoke with a woman who said a man she described as her boyfriend had broken her car windshield.

An investigation revealed the woman may be a victim of human trafficking; she reportedly told police she had met Lewis in Louisiana and he had introduced her to sex dates — listing her online for commercial sex services and collecting her earnings after the encounters, police said.

The woman also told officers that Lewis had sexually assaulted her, police said.

Lewis was located at another hotel nearby and taken into custody. A second possible human trafficking victim was with him, but she refused assistance from officers, police said.

The investigation also revealed that Lewis has operated in several cities, police said.

Lewis, of Arlington, Texas, is charged with human trafficking enterprise resulting in injury/commercial sexual activity, prostitution, and using a computer to commit a crime. Two counts of assault with intent to commit sexual penetration he had been charged with have been dismissed. Arraignment in Oakland County Circuit Court is scheduled for Oct. 8 before Judge Michael Warren.

Lewis is in the Oakland County Jail with bond set at $300,000 cash or surety.

Police said Lewis also has charges pending in Louisiana.

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Trial is scheduled in Oakland County Circuit Court for a former Wayne County official and her husband accused of pulling guns on a customer following a physical fight at a Farmington Hills gas station.

Jury selection is scheduled to begin Feb. 23, 2026 for the cases against Alicia Bradford and her husband, Larry Bradford of Farmington Hills. Both face charges of assault with a dangerous weapon/felonious assault and using a firearm during the commission of a felony in connection with a New Year’s Day 2025 incident.

According to police reports and security video obtained under Michigan’s Freedom of Information Act, the charges stem from an incident that happened just before 1 a.m. on Jan. 1 at a gas station on Orchard Lake Road.

A fight broke out between Larry Bradford and another customer who got involved after Bradford began arguing with the gas station clerk, accusing him of charging tax on a bottle of Mountain Dew, police said. Larry Bradford left the store and returned with a 9mm handgun and pointed it at the customer, demanding he get on his knees and apologize, and struck him. Alicia Bradford then entered the store armed with a firearm and pointed it at the customer, according to police.

At the time of her arrest, Alicia Bradford was Wayne County’s parks and recreation director. She was suspended without pay after the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office filed charges against her, and then resigned from her job in February.

Alicia Bradford and Larry Bradford are out of custody on $50,000 personal bonds, which require no cash or surety to be posted.

Assault with a dangerous weapon/felonious assault carries a penalty of up to four years in prison. Using a firearm in the commission of a felony is punishable by up to two years in prison.

The cases are assigned to Judge Yasmine Poles.

The Detroit News contributed to this story.

White Lake man struck by car and killed while crossing Highland Road

A 69-year-old White Lake Township man was killed late Wednesday on Highland Road after being struck by a car driven by an 81-year-old man from Holly, officials said.

According to the White Lake Police Department, preliminary results of an ongoing investigation indicate the man was attempting to cross Highland Road near Legrand Boulevard when he was struck by the vehicle headed east on Highland Road. Alcohol does not appear to be a factor in the incident, police said.

Officers called to the scene at around 11:18 p.m. found the victim unresponsive and lying in the roadway, police said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police haven’t yet released the victim’s name.

Anyone with further information related to the crash is asked to contact White Lake Police Sgt. Brad Connell by phone at  248-698-4400 or by email at bconnelll@whitelakepolice.com.

This is the fourth fatality reported on Oakland County roadways in the past two days. On Wednesday morning, a Detroiter was killed after crashing his car in Bloomfield Township. Police suspect a medical emergency prior to or during the crash. And on Tuesday morning, a fiery crash on I-96 in Novi claimed the lives of two drivers — one from Westland and the other from California.

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Update: 2 drivers killed in fiery crash early Tuesday on I-96 in Novi; victims’ names, other details released

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A new magistrate has been appointed to the bench at 51st District Court in Waterford Township.

At its Sept. 22 meeting, the Waterford Township Board of Trustees approved the appointment of attorney Roberto Bihar to the role of magistrate. He assumes duties at the court on Oct. 15.

According to officials, Roberto was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina and moved to the San Fernando Valley in California in 1982, then relocated to Michigan in 1996.

Bihar and his wife have lived in Waterford since 2000, raising their five children. The family is actively involved in Waterford’s soccer community, officials said.

Bihar began his legal career in 2009 as law clerk for 52-2 District Judge Joseph Fabrizio. He continues to serve as a public defender for its sobriety court program. In 2014, he opened his law practice, specializing in criminal and probate law.

Bihar graduated cum laude from Cooley Law School in 2012. He earned his bachelor of arts degree from Madonna University, majoring in Spanish and criminal justice, officials said.

Bihar holds membership in the Oakland County Bar Associations and the Knights of Columbus Council, and is a parishioner at St. Perpetua Catholic Church in Waterford, officials said.

Update: 2 drivers killed in fiery crash early Tuesday on I-96 in Novi; victims’ names, other details released

Cops v. Firefighters: Battle of the Badges softball game fundraiser this Friday

Two people died following a fiery crash early Tuesday morning on I-96 in Novi, officials said.

The Novi Police Department identified the victims as Sylvette Campbell, 57, of Westland and Neena Wang, 30, of California.

According to Novi Police Commander Kristie Gruenwald, a preliminary investigation indicates Wang was in an Acura sedan stopped in the left lane of eastbound I-96 near the Beck Road exit due to a malfunction with the driver-side front tire when Campbell, driving a Kia Soul eastbound on I-96 rear-ended the Acura. Both vehicles caught fire and both drivers were killed. Neither car had passengers.

When police and firefighters arrived on the scene shortly after 2 a.m., both vehicles were fully-engulfed in flames, Gruenwald said.

Traffic was rerouted and the stretch of freeway was shut down for several hours after the crash, but by 9:30 a.m. the freeway was reopened and traffic appeared to be flowing as usual.

The Novi Police Department is leading the crash investigation with assistance from Michigan State Police and will provide further information as the investigation progresses, Gruenwald said. Autopsy and toxicology reports on the victims are pending.

Gruenwald said her department extends its deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of both drivers.

Troy police officers and firefighters will face off in the “Battle of the Badges” softball game fundraiser this Friday, Sept. 26.

Held at Donald J. Flynn Park, 1808 E. South Boulevard, the game’s first pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

The primary purpose of the “good-natured competition”  is to raise funds for the Troy Police Department’s Honor Guard, officials said. The honor guard participates in remembrance ceremonies for law enforcement personnel who die in the line of duty, as well as other events that “require dignified display and presentation” of the United States flag, officials said.

Tickets are $10, and children 12 years old and younger will be admitted for free. The event will also feature a food truck and GIlly’s Ice Cream for purchase.

“Get ready for a showdown in this charity matchup. We’re excited to spend the evening playing instead of working with our friends at the fire department,” said Sgt. John Julian of the Troy Police Department. “It will also be a fun time to show that public safety can have a lighter side, too.”

Added Troy Fire Department Lt. Keith Young:  “We may be rivals on the field for one night, but at the end of the day we’re all on the same team serving Troy. Win or lose, it’s about community, camaraderie and a little bragging rights.”

Tickets are available in advance at bit.ly/TroyBadgeBattle and at the game.

The event is supported by the City of Troy Rotary Club and sponsored by Michigan Schools and Government Credit Union.

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The case against a Springfield Township man accused of shaking his infant and nearly killing him has advanced to Oakland County Circuit Court for possible trial.

At the conclusion of a recent preliminary exam in 52-2 District Court, Judge Kelly Kostin ruled there was probable cause to bind over the case against 32-year-old Daniel Charles Gracer, scheduled to be arraigned in the higher court on Sept. 25 by Judge Mary Ellen Brennan.

Gracer is charged with one count of first-degree child abuse in connection with the near-fatal injuries his then-2-month-old son suffered last December.

According to the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, on Dec. 23, 2024 deputies were called to a home in the 7000 block of Meadow Lane in Springfield Township on a report of an unresponsive baby. Gracer was caring for the boy at the time, the sheriff’s office said.

The baby suffered serious head and brain trauma, and a child abuse specialist who examined the baby determined the injuries were non-accidental, the sheriff’s office said. The brain injury, according to the specialist, was due to rapid acceleration and rapid deceleration, consistent with being shaken, the sheriff’s office said. The trauma was “nearly fatal,” the sheriff’s office said, and the baby is likely to have severely delayed development.

Hospital staff reportedly relayed the findings to the sheriff’s office which launched an investigation.

Gracer was released from jail in February after Kostin changed his $1 million bond to a personal bond – requiring no cash or surety to be posted.

First-degree child abuse is punishable by up to life in prison.

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As an investigation continues into a Sept. 1 shooting at a Rochester Hills hotel where two people were hit by gunfire and one of them died, a  21-year-old man from Cincinnati, Ohio is charged with assault with intent to murder and weapons-related offenses in connection with the incident.

Other people are being investigated for their involvement in the shooting, said Steve Huber, spokesperson for the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office.

The Cincinnati man, Calvin Roger Jones, Jr., is held in the Oakland County Jail with bond set at $2 million. The assault with intent to murder charge carries a penalty of up to life in prison. Jones is also charged with carrying a concealed weapon and two counts of felony firearm.

The sheriff’s office identified the victim who died as Mykqelle Rashad Scott, 28, also of Cincinnati, Ohio. Jones is not charged in Scott’s death.

According to the sheriff’s office, the shooting stemmed from an altercation in the parking lot of the Fairfield Inn on South Rochester Road involving at least three people. Scott was killed and the other shooting victim sustained injuries that weren’t life threatening, the sheriff’s office said. A vehicle collision on South Boulevard connected to the shooting didn’t result in any serious injuries, the sheriff’s office said.

Additional information including the possibility of other charges being filed is expected to be released at some point. The Oakland Press will report further on the incident when more details are available.

Accused killer of sister and her child has lengthy criminal past; police said he had written plan to flee after slayings

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The man accused of cutting the throats of his sister and her child, killing them last week in their Hazel Park home, is no stranger to law enforcement.

As revealed at his arraignment Sept. 5, Ladamien Keith Hill, 43, has a criminal history dating back more than two decades, with convictions for violent crimes including assault and battery and domestic violence, as well as drug- and alcohol-related offenses.

He has fathered seven children, is single and has lived in Redford Township for the past six or seven years with the mother of one of his kids, according to the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office.

His occupation is listed as a self-employed roofer.

Hill is charged with two counts of first-degree premeditated homicide for the deaths of his sister, 41-year-old Linda Hill, and her child, 12-year-old son, Kardi Jackson. They were found in a “gruesome, bloody scene” at a home located at 23084 Berdeno Street by officers responding to a call from Linda Hill’s uncle on Sept. 1 shortly after 4 p.m.

Hazel Park police said Linda Hill’s 64-year-old uncle, who lives in the basement of the Berdeno Street home, told them he had been in the basement all day watching television when he heard loud noises; approximately 15 to 30 minutes later he went upstairs and found Linda Hill unresponsive, then called police.

Officers found Linda Hill lying facedown in the living room, and Kardi Jackson in the laundry room, police said, both with severe cuts to their throats. As of Sept. 5, the weapon used in the homicides hadn’t been recovered, and a motive for the crimes hadn’t been determined, officials said.

Ladamien Hill was arrested the next evening at a home on Whittemore Street in Pontiac where he reportedly had been staying. Officials said they recovered bloody clothing and other evidence — including Hill’s written notes about plans to flee and items he needed to do so, such as a passport, firearms and a car. Hill has also been connected to a red Lincoln seen at the scene of the slayings, police said.

Prior to his arrest — according to family members — after officers had cleared the crime scene Hill had returned to his sister’s home, asked for forgiveness and then lied down naked on Linda Hill’s bed for a few minutes before leaving, police said.

Held in the Oakland County Jail, denied bond, Hill is scheduled to return to Hazel Park’s 43rd District Court on Sept. 16 for a probable cause conference, followed by a preliminary exam a week later.

Meanwhile, a donation drive through GoFundMe is ongoing to help cover funeral and memorial expenses for Linda Hill and her son. To pledge, go to https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-funeral-costs-for-linda-and-kardi.

Case advances against felon accused of killing man in Pontiac drive-by shooting

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A preliminary examination is scheduled for the case against a Pontiac woman accused in an alleged road rage incident that led to a Clarkston man being hit by a car outside a Meijer store and suffering a broken leg last month.

Samantha Jaynes, 25, is charged with felonious assault and a misdemeanor charge of failure to stop at the scene of an accident for the alleged Aug. 20 incident in Auburn Hills. The exam will be held before 52-3 District Judge Laura Polizzi who will be presented with evidence and then determine if probable cause exists for the case to be bound over to Oakland County Circuit Court for possible trial.

Police said the incident unfolded at around 7 p.m. on Aug. 20 during a road rage altercation on I-75. Jaynes reportedly followed the man to the Meijer’s drive-through pharmacy; he exited his car and an argument ensued. Jaynes allegedly pepper-sprayed the man and then hit him with her car as she backed up. Jaynes fled the scene but was later arrested and charged.

Jaynes was let out of jail on Aug. 22 on a personal bond, which requires no cash or surety to be posted.

If convicted of the felonious assault charge, Jaynes faces up to four years in prison and/or a $2,000 fine. The misdemeanor is punishable by up to 90 days in jail and/or a $100 fine.

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