Man accused of ordering graduation partiers to strip naked during robbery takes plea deal
Javon Hurston
Courtesy of WCSO
A 35-year-old Ypsilanti Township man who police say robbed a graduation party at gunpoint last summer and ordered people to strip took a plea deal in the Washtenaw County Trial Court Monday.
Police said some of the victims jumped off a second-floor balcony to escape during the robbery.
Javon Hurston pleaded no contest to possession with intent to deliver marijuana, assault with a dangerous weapon, felon in possession of a weapon, carrying a concealed weapon and felony firearm.
Thirteen counts will be dismissed, including seven counts of armed robbery, five counts of assault with intent to rob while armed and one count of first-degree home invasion.
Police say Hurston and an unidentified second suspect were outside in the 2100 block of Golfside Drive in Ypsilanti Township on June 4, 2012, around 2:30 a.m. when they encountered two women who were coming from a nearby apartment, where a graduation party was being held.
In court Monday, Hurston said the woman wanted to buy drugs from him.
"I was approached by some ladies who wanted to buy marijuana," he said.
Hurston and the second man, also armed, tried to rob the women, said Sgt. Geoff Fox of the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office.
“Both of them brandished guns and pointed them at them,” Fox said.
The women, however, didn't have anything to give them, so the men decided to make the women take them up to the graduation party, Fox said.
Once inside the apartment, police say Hurston and the other man robbed a dozen or so people of drugs, money, cellphones and jewelry at gunpoint.
“They told people to strip down,” Fox said.
It wasn't clear whether people actually had time to strip or not, Fox added. The report did indicate that some people jumped from a balcony to escape, he said.
The two men fled after someone at the party yelled that police had arrived, when in fact they hadn't.
Police recovered some of the cellphones nearby later that morning. A ring that was also found with the phones was later linked to Hurston, Fox said.
Hurston continues to be held at the Washtenaw County Jail. He is scheduled to be sentenced May 20.
Police continue to investigate who the second suspect is. Hurston has not cooperated with questioning, Fox said.
John Counts covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at johncounts@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.
Comments
cornelius McDougenschniefferburgenstein jr. 3 esq.
Sat, Apr 27, 2013 : 11:30 p.m.
could forcing people to strip at gunpoint be a sex crime?i didnt see one.
Macabre Sunset
Sat, Apr 27, 2013 : 8:41 p.m.
I can't imagine what purpose it serves the community to let this person out of jail, ever. This judge did not do her job. The prosecution did not do its job.
Bruce W
Sat, Apr 27, 2013 : 12:53 p.m.
Were the 13 charges dropped because the people that were robbed would not show up in court to testify that he stole their illegal drugs from them? Maybe they had warrants on them and wouldn't show up? Could it be the Don't Snitch Mentality or they know this guy will get out in a year or two and come back to visit them because our courts don't protect innocent law abiding citizens?
Tru2Blu76
Sat, Apr 27, 2013 : 1:05 a.m.
Why on Earth did this guy & his pal think robbing & humiliating a roomful of unarmed people would work? Oh, wait, it worked very well, didn't it.
nightwalker
Fri, Apr 26, 2013 : 3:34 p.m.
I have 1 other comment I'd like to make. Alot of times Judges hands are tied they go by P.S I reports and prior crimes. They are bound by sentencing guidelines. Say for example some1 has never been in trouble....They get convicted of armed Robbery? The sentencing guidelines are very low. Usually 1 year in Jail 3 years probation electronic tether maybe ..big fines. then lets say its some1's 2nd offense for armed robbery ? Their guidelines will be much higher possibly up to life ..But usually guidelines would call between 7 and 15 years.
jussayin'
Fri, Apr 26, 2013 : 3:31 p.m.
No wonder crime is so high in the area, these people pretty much get away with murder.
nightwalker
Fri, Apr 26, 2013 : 3:02 p.m.
He'll get plenty of time for being a habitual offender. The courts go by a point system. He will not get out for a long long time.
Sue
Wed, May 1, 2013 : 3:30 p.m.
If he's a habitual offender, why was he even out on the streets rather than behind bars where he belongs? Why wasn't he put away for a long time the last time he was convicted?
Bob
Fri, Apr 26, 2013 : 1:04 p.m.
What Judith said, with emphasis! When this judge plays poker, does he/she just give her/his chips away?
judith conger
Fri, Apr 26, 2013 : 12:04 p.m.
A plea deal without giving up his partner? Come on!
DJBudSonic
Fri, Apr 26, 2013 : 11:25 a.m.
Doesn't the weirdo nature of forcing victims to strip at gunpoint at least earn him a place on the sex offenders registry? That way we can know where this person is upon his eventual release.
Nicholas Urfe
Fri, Apr 26, 2013 : 2:35 a.m.
"Javon Hurston pleaded no contest to ..." What a joke. The judge should have never allowed a no contest plea.
nightwalker
Fri, Apr 26, 2013 : 3:03 p.m.
No plea deals for dwls though..What a system
martini man
Fri, Apr 26, 2013 : 2:33 a.m.
Just because those liberal judges dismissed all those charges, doesn't mean he'll get away with his crimes. I am sure he'll at least get probation, community service, and a course in sensitivity..Take that you mean ol' crook. ( alledged ) Who says our justice system doesn't work ????
Blue Marker
Fri, Apr 26, 2013 : 11:24 a.m.
lib·er·al [lib-er-uhl, lib-ruhl] adjective 1. favorable to progress or reform, as in political or religious affairs. Are you sure you know the meaning of the word?
JRW
Fri, Apr 26, 2013 : 2:22 a.m.
The armed robbery charges were DISMISSED? These are the most serious and most obvious. I don't get it. Armed robbery is what this thug did! Unbelievable justice system in Washtenaw County. And residents wonder why these thugs continue to commit crimes with long rap sheets. Who is doing this? Can we replace these judges and prosecutors and get people in those positions who will get tough, really tough, on these thugs? Just unbelievable.
John Counts
Fri, Apr 26, 2013 : 4:39 p.m.
It was in Judge Darlene O'Brien's courtroom and he had court-appointed attorney Erika Julien. Plea deals are common in every courtroom with every kind of attorney.
Jack
Fri, Apr 26, 2013 : 2 p.m.
I don't understand that, either. While I know they pile on charges and some are usually dismissed during the bargaining process, ALL of the armed robbery charges were dismissed. Just doesn't make sense. I wonder who represented him and who the judge was. annarbor.com consistently does not report that information and I'm wondering why not.
EyeHeartA2
Fri, Apr 26, 2013 : 12:47 a.m.
If only there had been background checks in place, this man could never have bought his guns. Oh, wait. nevermind.
leaguebus
Thu, Apr 25, 2013 : 11:29 p.m.
He wouldn't tell them who was with him and they still dropped AA those charges?
Paul
Thu, Apr 25, 2013 : 11:36 p.m.
Read all the charges he plead to, he is still going away for a long-long time.
Westfringe
Thu, Apr 25, 2013 : 10:12 p.m.
"Thirteen counts will be dismissed, including seven counts of armed robbery, five counts of assault with intent to rob while armed and one count of first-degree home invasion." Why? Why are we not throwing the book at these violent criminals?!
Ann23
Fri, Apr 26, 2013 : 2:30 a.m.
While it's not impossible for him to change now, this window was all but lost when he became an independent adult. Children are more impressionable and are learning about their world and being taught how to live in it. Ideally, they have responsible adults looking after them and training them in acceptable behavior all of the time. Once a person becomes more independent, the opportunity to teach them is significantly reduced. Giving an adult a consequence by putting them in jail does not equate to teaching them proper behavior in the real world. As an adult they are already 'set in their ways' and have learned their bad habits and, at that point there probably isn't anybody who is willing or able to oversee their behavior or change their course like the responsible parent of a child is. This is why the care and protection and teaching of children is such an important aspect of improving society. And, while prison may be a way to discourage those who respect authority and consequences and to protect people from the others who don't, it doesn't seem to 'cure' the problems of those others.
Ann23
Fri, Apr 26, 2013 : 1:59 a.m.
Paul, and, that's good because...he'll have learned his lesson and be less dangerous by the time he is 50 because he was put in jail and convicted of crimes? Except, he was convicted of a felony before this and that did nothing to protect people from him. Time and consequences in themselves don't make adults who are willing to commit significant crimes less dangerous to others. They have to want to change. Which, apparently and likely he doesn't as of now. 50 isn't so old that you can't cause harm to others, especially if you are determined to have a weapon reguardless of the possible consequences.
Paul
Thu, Apr 25, 2013 : 11:39 p.m.
"Javon Hurston pleaded no contest to possession with intent to deliver marijuana, assault with a dangerous weapon, felon in possession of a weapon, carrying a concealed weapon and felony firearm." "hose are not light charges, the are "throwing the book" at him. Hes 35 and likely be lock up well in to his 50's
Jack Gladney
Thu, Apr 25, 2013 : 9:20 p.m.
Great job of using the carrot and stick to get him to rat out his partner, Prosecutor Einstein.
DJBudSonic
Fri, Apr 26, 2013 : 2:44 a.m.
Really it should be ALL STICKS for this guy.
nickcarraweigh
Thu, Apr 25, 2013 : 9:19 p.m.
Where's this case been since last June, when the robberies and outrages happened? When was Mr. Hurston taken into custody? Did somebody ID him?
John Counts
Thu, Apr 25, 2013 : 9:36 p.m.
Police did not want to release all the details about the lengthy investigation, but did tell me Hurston was already in jail when he was linked to this incident. One of the items found with the cell phones was a Willow Run High School class ring. Police eventually tracked down the female owner of the ring who said a former boyfriend had stolen it. That boyfriend was Javon Hurston, who was in jail. Hurston was not cooperative while questioned about any aspect of the incident. Police may have taken other measures, such as line-ups, etc., but did not immediately release those details of the investigation.
harpua
Thu, Apr 25, 2013 : 7:58 p.m.
wow....that takes "party crashing" to a new level huh? further more why is he offered a plea deal when he wont cooperate with questioning? he gets to plea out while his partner runs free? 13 counts dismissed? , unreal.