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Posted on Wed, Jul 18, 2012 : 5:45 p.m.

Victim's family believes 'justice was done' after convicted murderer is sentenced to life without parole

By John Counts

ROSCOE.jpg

Shane Roscoe

Shane Roscoe, 47, of Redford Township, wiped the tears from his eyes Wednesday after being sentenced to life in prison without parole for the 2006 murder of 55-year-old William Kenney.

“We’re satisfied,” said Peter Kenney, the victim’s brother. “We think the prosecution did a very good job. We believe justice was done.” Peter Kenney and other family members attended the sentencing in Judge Archie Brown’s courtroom

Roscoe, who has a long criminal history, was charged as a fourth degree habitual offender.

“He has been heading to this point since 1982,” said Assistant Washtenaw County Prosecutor Dianna Collins. That was the year when Roscoe first got in trouble with the law,

Some of Roscoe’s previous convictions include attempted burglary, unarmed robbery and receiving and concealing stolen property, all in 1984; escape from prison in 1986; stalking in 1997 and assault with a dangerous weapon in 2001.

“I think this is a fitting sentence given his disregard for human life,” Collins said.

Life without parole is the stiffest sentence for first-degree felony murder — committing a murder while in the process of committing another felony. He was also sentenced on two other charges in the Washtenaw County Trial Court. Roscoe was sentenced to 19 to 50 years for safe breaking and 12 to 24 years for resisting a police officer.

In June, a jury found Roscoe guilty of breaking into his former place of employment, Jim Bradley Pontiac GMC in Scio Township in August 2006. Prosecutors said he stole auto-related equipment and materials. During the break-in, Roscoe encountered Kenney, who worked at the dealership, prosecutors said.

Roscoe, along with another man, Jonathon Aiden — whose case is still pending — hit Kenney on the head with a hard object and then drove a vehicle over him, prosecutors said.

Kenney was taken to University of Michigan Hospital, where he died of injuries from the beating on Sept. 14, 2006. Roscoe, an ex-Democratic candidate for Putnam Township supervisor, wasn’t arrested and charged in the case until 2011.

When asked if he had anything to say before sentencing, Roscoe mumbled something inaudible to the rest of the courtroom before Brown proceeded.

“He still maintains his innocence,” said John Vella, Roscoe’s court-appointed attorney.

Roscoe appeared in Judge Donald Shelton’s courtroom Tuesday in a last-ditch attempt to get Brown disqualified from the case. Shelton denied the motion.

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

PaperReader

Thu, Jul 19, 2012 : 3:28 p.m.

This man had a history of stealing when he was a minor and there is no mention of any battery connected to the assault charge, he had been married, had a home and a couple of kids. It just doesn't sound like the violent person he is being portrayed to be by this media. If he did commit (or was an accomplice to) this horrible crime then he deserves to be imprisoned. With the defendant still maintaining innocence and Judge Shelton mentioning issues that could be decided on appeal, it appears likely we will read more about this story. In the meantime, may the family of the decedent have peace. On another note, Judge Brown's sentences of 19 to 50 years for safebreaking, and 12 to 24 years for resisting a police officer could be the basis of a fact finding story of sentences handed down for those types of crimes over the past decade or two. Publishing those facts could possibly be a deterrent to crime in Washtenaw County.

PaperReader

Fri, Jul 27, 2012 : 3:57 p.m.

The comment is not meant to be an argument of guilt or innocence. Just pointing out that although he has a record from when he was mostly a minor, there wasn't any disregard for human life in his past, toward his family or others. I still would like to see a report of the sentencing history for all judges in Washtenaw County for safebreaking and resisting a police officer as compared to the sentences imposed in this case. I suspect this media won't pursue that.

Matt Cooper

Wed, Jul 25, 2012 : 2:25 p.m.

"...he had been married, had a home and a couple of kids. It just doesn't sound like the violent person he is being portrayed to be by this media" Yeah, 'cause, you know, people that are married, or were once married, and have kids and own homes never commit violent crimes. C'mon. You're really not trrying to argue that maybe he didn't do it because he was married with kids and a home? Are you?

nickcarraweigh

Thu, Jul 19, 2012 : 1:33 p.m.

If the case against Roscoe was a slam dunk, why did it take six years or more to charge him with a crime? Some summary of the evidence presented at trial would have been helpful to readers in forming an opinion, but that means somebody at annarbor.com would have to leave the office and attend the trial and that, of course, ain't never gonna happen.

slave2work

Thu, Jul 19, 2012 : 1:20 a.m.

I wish they would hire a tech writer. Fix some of these really bad articles. I know someone who has a degree, I would be happy to let her know you would hire her!!!!

Enso

Thu, Jul 19, 2012 : 3:18 p.m.

Why would you wish something so awful and terrible on a friend of yours?

ypsi_d

Thu, Jul 19, 2012 : 6:36 a.m.

why would you wish something so awful and terrible on your friend?

d_a2

Thu, Jul 19, 2012 : 6:34 a.m.

why would you wish something so awful and terrible on someone you call a friend?

Mr. Ed

Thu, Jul 19, 2012 : 1:11 a.m.

Please proof this story. It reminds me of reading a high school news paper.

Pickforddick

Wed, Jul 18, 2012 : 11:55 p.m.

Oh how I wish we had the death penalty......this guy deserves it.

Enso

Thu, Jul 19, 2012 : 12:31 p.m.

I don't deserve to pay for how expensive it is though.

lefty48197

Wed, Jul 18, 2012 : 10:45 p.m.

Was he crying for the family who's lives he permanently altered by murdering one of their loved ones, or was he crying because he got caught and won't be able to live a free life of his own?

Danielle

Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 3:51 a.m.

For his selfish self he has no tears for the victims or any remorse. There are words for that narcissistic Sociopath.