Man who pleaded guilty to charges in 2011 shooting wanted after skipping sentencing hearing
Police are searching for one of the men who pleaded guilty to two felonies related to a shooting in Ypsilanti last year after he skipped out on a sentencing hearing last month.
Kennyon Roshawn Jackson
Kennyon Roshawn Jackson
Kennyon Jackson, 20, pleaded guilty May 7 to a charge of carrying a weapon while committing a felony and assault with intent to do great bodily harm and was scheduled to be sentenced on June 18, according to Detective Joseph Yuhas of the Ypsilanti police. However, Jackson never showed up for the hearing and hasn’t been heard from since, Yuhas said.
“He’s currently a fugitive from justice,” Yuhas said.
A bench warrant has been issued for Jackson’s arrest. Yuhas said it’s believed he’s still in the area and police are actively searching for him.
According to court records, the charges of assault with intent to murder, armed robbery, carrying a weapon with unlawful intent, discharging a firearm in a building and possessing a firearm while being a felon filed against Jackson will all be dismissed at sentencing.
Jackson was accused of shooting Antonio Cooper in the face during the incident at 11:50 p.m. July 11, 2011 in his South Grove Street apartment. Cooper was meeting with Jackson and Tory Warren to sell them some sunglasses. He told AnnArbor.com he took out a money clip to give Warren change for a $50 bill when Jackson pulled out a gun and shot him in the face.
Police found and arrested Jackson in November at a Superior Township apartment. He was lodged at the Washtenaw County Jail on a $100,000 cash or surety bond until February, when Washtenaw County Trial Court Judge Melinda Morris lowered his bond to $50,000 right to post 10 percent.
He bonded out of jail in late February after paying $5,000.
Jackson’s lawyer, Steve Tramontin, was not immediately available for comment Wednesday.
Warren is scheduled to be sentenced on July 23, records show.
Anyone with information on Jackson’s whereabouts is encouraged to call Yuhas at 734-482-9872 or to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800 SPEAK UP (773-2587).
Kyle Feldscher covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kylefeldscher@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.
Comments
ronny
Wed, Jul 18, 2012 : 8:37 a.m.
he looks trigger happy, dog gone super-thug!
Superior Twp voter
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 4:36 p.m.
No show for court? Then all plea deals are OFF. Take him to trial and slam the prison door on him.
Ricebrnr
Fri, Jul 13, 2012 : 2:05 p.m.
I agree can't we convict in absentia on all charges now??
stevek
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 3:10 p.m.
I'm absolutely shocked!! Did not see that coming.
Cory
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 1:54 p.m.
"Oh, so you've gulity to a violent crime? NO BOND." /end of story. That's how the system is supposed to work. I have no idea how this idiot of a judge decided to let this violent felon loose... I mean really?
Jimmy McNulty
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 12:32 p.m.
He pleaded guilty.......why was he not immediately incarcerated then, and credited for any time served at sentencing??? Thanks Melinda Morris!
Ryan
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 12:21 p.m.
Hilarious. My buddy, a working father of two, spent two months in a cell up on Hogback for popping hot for marijuana on a whiz quiz, a petty crime as these things go. This guy shoots someone in the face over $50 and he does about the same amount of time and gets to post bond. Kudos to Melinda Morris and Washtenaw County for freeing another violent felon while keeping those dangerous marijuana smokers where they belong! On another note, I notice that almost all of the most serious charges against this brute will be dropped as part of a plea deal... Hmm, reduced charges and a crazy low bond for an attempted murder/robbery suspect? If I didn't know better I would say that our local judicial system is actively trying to make Washtenaw County a worse place to live for law-abiding citizens. In any event, I can't wait to move!
Madeleine Borthwick
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 2 p.m.
Ryan, too right!! I only wish that "Judge" Morris would read some of these comments, recognize that what she is doing isn't working AND is "cheesing" people off, and develop a backbone.
Tom Todd
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 1:57 p.m.
it's like the wild west lately,do we have any police patrols anymore?
Jim Osborn
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 12:21 p.m.
Washtenaw County Trial Court Judge Melinda Morris is too soft on crime and should be gone
actionjackson
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 10:51 a.m.
Bad boy, bad boy, watcha going to do when they come for you?
Macabre Sunset
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 5:24 a.m.
Thanks, Melinda.
Madeleine Borthwick
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 1:57 p.m.
yeah, THANKS Melinda...
nickcarraweigh
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 2:18 a.m.
It can be hard to hide from the bondsman.
Pickforddick
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 2:17 a.m.
Judge Morris needs to be fired and stripped of her pension......Now !!
Madeleine Borthwick
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 1:56 p.m.
pick, you are absolutely right!! some of us are REALLY TIRED/ANGRY at the slaps on the wrist doled out by Ms. Morris. enough already!!
squidlover
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 1:33 a.m.
Yet another low in the judicial career of Melinda Morris. She can't be off of the bench soon enough. Present & future judges, take notice! Poor decisions like these are making us citizens very angry.
Tom Todd
Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 11:53 p.m.
who really cares! as long as he is not a public school teacher or a clerical worker at EMU or a state municipal employee.
Del Dunbar
Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 11:47 p.m.
Judge Morris was the first woman to serve as circuit judge in Washtenaw County. Unfortunately, this 1982 event may highlight her judicial service. In recent years, her decision-making on the Trial Court has not served the County well. She is required to retire due to age at the end of this year ; 172 days, 16 hours and 32 minutes from this moment. Likely the victim of this crime is even more upset than he was on March 2 when he publicly expressed his indignation at Judge Morris's reduction in the bail bond.
Jay Thomas
Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 11:14 p.m.
Hopefully other guilty criminals will show up for their sentencing... Great system!
Ron Granger
Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 11:11 p.m.
"He was lodged at the Washtenaw County Jail on a $100,000 cash or surety bond until February, when Washtenaw County Trial Court Judge Melinda Morris lowered his bond to $50,000 right to post 10 percent." Are we that low on jail space, or something? Shot in face, firearms felony, by a convicted felon, etc. Is that not serious? Is this what we can expect as a victim in Washtenaw county? That the man who pleads guilty to shooting you in the face will be bailed for only $5000? How'd you like to be the victim knowing he plead guilty but is free?
Ricebrnr
Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 11:05 p.m.
Thanks judge Morris for another dangerous felon out amongst decent people. Could someone please explain how someone pleading guilty to such charges got a plea deal in the first place, let alone not being remanded into custody as part of the deal or immediately upon the plea?.???
nowayjose
Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 10:48 p.m.
Skipped out on $5000 bond he prob only posted 500 to a bondsman. Insert home alone hand slap to the face.