COURT NEWS: FORMER BUCHANAN MAN PULLS OFF $168,000 WORTH OF VEHICLE PURCHASES WITH BAD CHECKS

By DEBRA HAIGHT

BCR Correspondent

Recent court action in Berrien and Cass counties include sentencings as well as the arraignment of a Dowagiac man for a shooting outside a Dowagiac bar July 29.

Rolandis Raisean Russell, of Pokagon Street in Dowagiac, was arraigned on first-

degree murder and seven other felony charges Monday afternoon in Cass County District Court. His next court dates are Aug. 9 for a pre-exam conference and Aug. 16 for a preliminary hearing.

In denying bond, District Judge Stacey Rentfrow cited public safety concerns as well as Russell’s past record which includes two juvenile and one adult assaultive convictions. “The court does find that it is in the public’s best interest to deny bond at this time,” she said.

Cass Prosecutor Victor Fitz called Russell a danger to the public as he used a “weapon of war”, an AK 47 type long gun, in the shooting. He noted that bond can be denied when there’s likelihood of a murder conviction and when there’s a danger to the public.

“This is as serious as it gets,” Fitz said. “This was part of an ongoing dispute … He was looking for a fight, he had a disregard for others as he shot and killed one person … This was intentional, premeditated and vengeful.”

“There were multiple witnesses to the shooting outside the tavern in Dowagiac,” he said. “There was an episode inside with a verbal dispute and he took umbrage. We expect the facts to show that he went to his vehicle to get the gun and endeavored to shoot. The gun jammed and he circled back and came back again.”

Fitz noted that Russell has confessed that he intended to kill another person, Michael Smith, who was at the Beeson Street Bar that night and early morning. He said his office is charging Russell with first-degree murder under the “transferred intent” legal theory as he intended to shoot Smith and actually shot and killed Wesaw who was a bystander.

Besides one count of first-degree murder, Russell is charged with assault with intent to murder Michael Smith, carrying a dangerous weapon with unlawful intent, possession of a loaded firearm in or upon a vehicle and four counts of possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony.

First-degree murder carries a mandatory sentence of life without parole. Assault with intent to murder carries a maximum penalty of life or a term of years, carrying a weapon with unlawful intent carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and possession of a loaded firearm in a vehicle carries a two year maximum penalty. Felony firearm carries a mandatory penalty of a consecutive two years in prison.

A South Bend man wanted in connection with several burglaries in the Michiana area was sentenced to prison this week in Berrien County Trial Court.

Frank Clark Sausman, 38, of South Bend, pleaded no contest to breaking and entering a building with intent to commit larceny and was sentenced Monday to 14 months to 10 years in prison. He must pay $198 in fines and costs and $9,500 in restitution. He has credit for 59 days already served.

The incident occurred July 8, 2017 at the Seven Days Party Store at Fifth and Sycamore Streets in Niles. He got into the store by breaking through drywall in an adjacent barber shop. He stole cash from a safe as well as other cash in the store.

Sausman was arrested in March after his DNA was found on three $20 bills and a headlamp outside the store. He is also a suspect in numerous other burglaries in Berrien and Cass Counties as well as St. Joseph, LaPorte and Marshall counties in Indiana.

In another sentencing, a former Buchanan resident was sentenced to probation and jail after paying for two vehicles from Tyler Automotive with checks written on closed accounts.

Roderick Taylor, 44, of Detroit, formerly of Fulton Street in Buchanan, pleaded

guilty to false pretenses over $1,000 and under $20,000 and was sentenced to two years probation, 150 days in jail, $1,198 in fines and costs and $2,296.91 in restitution. He has credit for 72 days already served.

The incident occurred in November and December of 2016 when Taylor went into Tyler’s and said he had received an inheritance and wanted to buy two vehicles, a Chevy Tahoe and a Cadillac CT6. He and a woman with him, Tasha Young, were allowed to take the vehicles and bring back checks later.

The checks were found to be written on closed accounts. They also obtained another vehicle, a Cadillac, under similar circumstances from Tom Naquin Chevrolet in Indiana. All three vehicles were later recovered, one as far away as Dayton, Ohio, but had some damage.

Court records put the value of the two vehicles taken from Tyler’s at nearly $169,000 and the vehicle taken from Tom Naquin at over $86,000. Restitution was ordered for towing charges, a crack windshield and mileage expenses.

Young cooperated with police and was sentenced earlier. Berrien County Trial Judge Charles LaSata said Young had been duped by Taylor. “She felt bad once it all unraveled,” he said. “… It was surprising and almost shocking that someone could pull this off and get $168,000 worth of cars on no account checks. This was quite the scam.”