Teen accused of shooting man in the leg refuses plea bargain
A 16-year-old Superior Township boy accused of shooting a man in the leg after taking his money refused a plea deal offered by the prosecution Tuesday in the Washtenaw County Trial Court.
Bertel Franklin Gibbs is charged with assault with intent to murder, assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder, armed robbery and three counts of felony firearm for a November shooting at an Ypsilanti Township apartment complex.
Assistant Washtenaw County Prosecutor Blaine Longsworth offered Gibbs a deal that would have dismissed the count of assault with intent to murder and two counts of felony firearm if Gibbs pleaded guilty to the rest of the charges.
"That offer has been rejected," Longsworth told Judge Donald Shelton.
A trial is scheduled to start on April 22.
Gibbs is accused of shooting a 39-year-old Ypsilanti Township man who told police he was walking through an apartment complex in the 1100 block of South Harris Road when Gibbs allegedly brandished a handgun and told the man to give him all his money, police said.
Even though the man handed over an undisclosed amount of money, police say Gibbs shot the man in the leg. Neither Gibbs or the victim lived at the apartment complex and did not know each other, according to police.
The 39-year-old was treated at the hospital for the gunshot wound and released soon after the incident.
At the time of his arrest, Gibbs was given a $500,000 bond and was being held at the Washtenaw County Juvenile Detention Center. No booking picture is available because Gibbs was processed as a juvenile.
Gibbs was charged as an adult due to the seriousness of the crimes, police 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
John Morgan
Sun, Mar 24, 2013 : 2:42 p.m.
Let me see if I,ve got this straight: You cant Post his Picture because he,s a Juvenile?? But yet you think you can try him as a Adult! That just dont Mix!! Maybe if you say it 3 time fast it will at least look better on paper?? But I dought it!
Ricebrnr
Fri, Mar 22, 2013 : 5:25 p.m.
but but but, if we just comply, if we just give them what they want, they're supposed to leave us alone! Didn't the alleged criminal get the memo???
Superior Twp voter
Fri, Mar 22, 2013 : 5:25 p.m.
Good! Go to trial as charged and take what you get.
a2huron
Fri, Mar 22, 2013 : 5 p.m.
A leg shot - after getting the loot - at 16 yrs old. Current trajectory guarantees that a head shot is made by this punk no later than age 20. The fear of shooting clearly is gone. Soon also the fear of killing. Needs serious time to contemplate.
Piledriver
Fri, Mar 22, 2013 : 4:43 p.m.
Why is the prosecution even offering a plea? I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm getting sick and tired of hearing about these dangerous criminals being offered plea deals. The prosecutors need to charge and prosecute these criminals to the fullest extent of the law, especially when the evidence is solid and the criminals are dangerous and/or repeat offenders. Otherwise your giving these thugs incentive to continue to commit these crimes, with them knowing that they may be able to plea the case down, if they get caught!
Hmm
Fri, Mar 22, 2013 : 3:29 p.m.
Oh well send him to his new home
Mr. Ed
Fri, Mar 22, 2013 : 3:23 p.m.
Where's his momma saying he's a nice boy and he didn't do this.
Tru2Blu76
Fri, Mar 22, 2013 : 3:16 p.m.
Let's see now, it looks like young Mr. Gibbs will be missing Algebra II, Geometry, Biology, Physics I and II, Civics, numerous glee club meetings and his senior prom. At a time when Michigan needs more talent entering the workforce. But at least he won't be another of our young people moving out of state... for a good long while.
rs
Fri, Mar 22, 2013 : 2:19 p.m.
Darn, now the prosecutor will actually have to do some work.
nowayjose
Fri, Mar 22, 2013 : 2:15 p.m.
Enjoy prison!
Billy
Fri, Mar 22, 2013 : 2:10 p.m.
"A 16-year-old Superior Township boy accused of shooting a man in the leg after taking his money refused a plea deal offered by the prosecution Tuesday in the Washtenaw County Trial Court." Sounds good to me...now he'll spend some REAL time in jail. 16 years old is old enough to know better when it comes to ROBBING someone at gunpoint...he can spend his next 16 years in jail now...
Doug
Sat, Mar 23, 2013 : 2:22 p.m.
Billy, You hit the nail on the head with your response.