Young-Adult Killers in Macomb County to Have Sentences Revisited

Prosecutors in Macomb County Weigh Life Without Parole for Young Offenders

Macomb County prosecutors are currently reviewing whether to seek life-without-parole sentences for 20 individuals who were previously convicted of first-degree murder. These cases involve offenders who were 19 or 20 years old at the time of their crimes, and they are now facing resentencing due to recent rulings by the Michigan Supreme Court. The decision comes after a state high court ruling in April that determined mandatory life without parole for individuals aged 19 and 20 violates the state constitution’s ban on cruel or unusual punishment.

This ruling has significant implications, as it applies retroactively to about 580 young adults in Michigan, including 16 in Macomb County. Additionally, a previous court decision extended the same legal protections to 18-year-olds, adding four more cases under review by prosecutors.

Considerations for Resentencing

Prosecutors must decide whether to ask judges to reinstate life-without-parole sentences or agree to a new sentencing range of 25 to 40 years, which would allow for potential parole. This process involves a thorough evaluation of each case, with attention given to factors such as the nature and severity of the crime, the offender's role, criminal history, conduct in prison, and potential for rehabilitation. Public safety and the interests of justice are central to these decisions.

Macomb County Prosecutor Peter Lucido emphasized the complexity of the process, stating that each case is being reviewed carefully. “These reviews are not quick or routine,” he said. “We’re combing through thousands of pages of records, weighing public safety, and meeting with victims’ families. If the facts and danger to the public warrant it, we will not hesitate to seek life without parole again.”

The deadlines for filing in these cases are set for January 5 for those involving 19 and 20-year-olds, and December 29 for the 18-year-olds.

Legal Context and Implications

The current rulings align with the landmark 2012 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Miller v. Alabama, which invalidated juvenile-lifer laws. This decision impacted approximately 360 juvenile murder convicts in Michigan, including 12 in Macomb County. Among them are Ihab Maslamani and Robert Taylor, who could still receive a sentence that allows for parole following years of legal developments.

On the defense side, attorneys from the State Appellate Defender’s Office (SADO), the Michigan Appellate Assigned Counsel System, and the Macomb County Public Defender’s Office are representing the offenders. Tina Olson, managing attorney for SADO’s juvenile lifer unit, praised the recent high court decisions, noting that they reflect a recognition of developmental differences between younger and older individuals.

Tom Tomko, Macomb County public defender, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that individuals aged 18, 19, or 20 may not fully understand the consequences of their actions. “Lock ‘em up and throw away the key for life because of a horrible decision they made when they were too young to appreciate what they were doing? Maybe we should look at it,” he said.

Recidivism Rates and Parole Eligibility

National studies have shown that juveniles whose life-without-parole terms were reduced to a term of years have exhibited extremely low recidivism rates—about 5%—compared to overall societal rates. This suggests that even if someone is resentenced to a term of years, they often mature and reintegrate successfully into society.

In Michigan, the state’s Department of Corrections has recorded a record low recidivism rate of 21%. Those sentenced to a term of 25 to 40 years can be paroled at that time, although the parole board can deny parole for up to 60 years.

Notable Cases in New Baltimore

Among the 20 convicts facing resentencing are two high-profile cases from New Baltimore:

• Samantha Bachynski was 19 when she and her boyfriend, Patrick Selepak, murdered Scott and Melissa Berels in their home in 2006. She received two life-without-parole sentences for the couple’s murders and is serving 23 years for a separate conviction.
• David Scott Baumann, who was 20 at the time, was involved in the 2000 execution-style shooting death of 16-year-old Justin Mello in a New Baltimore pizzeria. He was part of a multi-state crime spree fueled by drugs and alcohol, and the case received significant media attention.

Other notable cases include Dajuan Davenport and Darrell Banks, who were convicted of multiple murders and will also face resentencing.

Additional Offenders and Ongoing Cases

The list of offenders includes:

• 19- and 20-year-olds: Dannelle Perez Fisher (1984), Dorothy Mae Ulecki (1984), Miles Martin Leon Miles (1985), Willie George Tinsley (1994), Marcus Kragness (2016), Andrew Terrell Clark (2011), Delniece Jnay Williams (2011), Renyatta Annette Hamilton (2012), Demonte Marcellus Easterling (2015), Bria Corrine Blackmon (2015), Ronald Lawrence Jordan (1970), Dajuan Dion-Diego Davenport (2021), Darrell Semaj Banks Jr. (2021), and Corey Terrell Crump (2022).
• 18-year-olds: William Ervin Minnie (2003), Andrew Paul Colbert (2006), Richard Lee Pruett (1989), and Dmario Dazone Towns (2020).

Some cases, including those of Crump and Davenport, are pending at the state Court of Appeals, while Banks’ case is on appeal to the state Supreme Court. Crump is also scheduled to go on trial in November for a separate slaying.