BERRIEN COUNTY MURDER/ROBBERY TRIALS DELAYED

By DEBRA HAIGHT
BCR Correspondent
Jury trials in two high profile cases have been delayed in Berrien County Trial Court.
The trial of Rigoberto Gomez, 47, of Eau Claire, had been scheduled to start in late May in Berrien County Trial Court at the St. Joseph courthouse but has been delayed until mid-November.
Berrien County Assistant Prosecutor Kate Arnold is trying the case. Her office is still waiting for test results from the Michigan State Police on some of the evidence collected in the case. Gomez is accused in the Nov. 2, 2024 shooting death of Chad Medlin, a local firefighter, outside a bar in downtown Eau Claire.
Gomez is charged with one count each of open murder, assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder, assault with a dangerous weapon and possession of a firearm by a felon as well as four counts of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.
The open murder charge allows for a jury to consider either first-degree or second-degree murder. A conviction for first-degree murder would result in a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. A second-degree murder conviction carries a maximum penalty of life or any term of years.
Gomez has been in jail since last November with court proceedings delayed initially to give him time to get a lawyer and then to find a new judge to preside over the case. Judge Gordon Hosbein recused himself due to a conflict of interest and the case is now being handled by Judge Gary Bruce.
Gomez was bound over for trial in early March after a two day preliminary hearing featuring testimony from eyewitnesses, police officers and others.
In the other case, Edward Deontae Turner, 39, of Berrien Springs is awaiting trial in connection with a string of central county robberies last summer and fall.
Berrien County Assistant Prosecutor Myrene Koch reported that a status conference is set for June 16 to see if a plea deal can be reached. Turner’s trial in Berrien County Trial Court at the Niles courthouse had been set to start June 4 and is now scheduled for July 2.
Turner was bound over for trial late last year on four counts of armed robbery, four counts of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, four counts of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony and one count of receiving, concealing, possession of a stolen weapon. His bond remains at $250,000 cash or surety.