Trial for man accused of killing Canton Township woman while driving drunk to begin Monday
The man accused of killing a mother of two children while driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs last year will begin his trial Monday morning.
Bradley Howard
Bradley Howard is facing a second-degree murder charge, along with nine other charges, for allegedly killing Stephanie Joyce Stone on Oct. 26, 2010. Police say Howard was driving his 1995 Ford Mustang at speeds between 60 and 80 miles per hour when he struck Stone’s 2002 Ford Taurus at the intersection of Ecorse and Harris Roads in Ypsilanti Township.
Stone died at the scene from her injuries, and her teenage son was hospitalized with serious injuries. Her daughter suffered minor injuries, according to police.
The trial begins in Judge Archie Brown’s courtroom at 8:30 a.m. Monday at the Washtenaw County Trial Court, 200 N. Main St. Howard is being held in the Washtenaw County Jail while awaiting trial.
Stone was traveling back to her home in Canton Township after picking up her children from their grandparents’ house in Ypsilanti Township. She had just finished working her shift at the Dairy Queen in Canton Township. Police say Howard ran a red light and slammed into her car, pushing it into three other cars.
Washtenaw County Assistant Prosecutor Paul Barnett said there was no evidence to suggest Howard ever applied his brakes or attempted to slow down the Mustang before colliding with Stone’s Taurus.
According to Michele Glinn, the supervisor of the toxicology lab at the Michigan State Police Crime Lab, Howard’s blood samples had alcohol, THC, Hydrocodone and a high level of Alprazolam in his system after the crash. Hydrocodone is a painkiller, THC is the active chemical compound in marijuana and Alprazolam is an anti-anxiety medication.
Glinn said it was her professional opinion Howard was intoxicated at the time of the crash.
At that same preliminary examination in March, Kenyatta Smith — a man who witnessed the crash — testified Howard attempted to walk away from the crash, catching the incident on video. Police said Howard made it about 250 yards away from the crash before being arrested.
Howard has not had a valid driver’s license since 2003, according to police. He’s also been convicted of operating while intoxicated three times and is prohibited from drinking because he is on probation for a 2008 assault conviction, according to court records.
In addition to second-degree murder, which carries a maximum of life in prison, Howard is also facing a charge of operating while intoxicated causing death, operating while intoxicated causing serious injury, operating while intoxicated third offense, failing to stop at an accident causing death, failing to stop at an accident, operating with a suspended license causing death, operating with a suspended license causing serious injury, operating with a suspended license second offense and having an open container in a vehicle.
Howard is also scheduled to have a probation violation hearing on Monday morning.
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
lkmorgan
Tue, Oct 4, 2011 : 3:09 p.m.
anybody know how old this guy is ? he looks old enough to know better, just sayin !!!!!!!!!
KeepingItReal
Mon, Oct 3, 2011 : 3:11 p.m.
I wonder where's Ricebr comments.
AA
Mon, Oct 3, 2011 : 1:03 p.m.
Show no mercy.
blugoose
Mon, Oct 3, 2011 : 12:13 p.m.
We need to get him on that telephone reporting parole/probation reported in the Freep this weekend. C'mon Judge Morris....
mb20fan
Mon, Oct 3, 2011 : 10:58 a.m.
Just a fyi once this goes to trial it`s way to late for a plea bargin.If he wanted to plea it down he should have done that month`s ago.I`m sure a plea way offered but he did not take the deal.On 3rd dui your going to jail for a min 45 day`s mandatory .Not even a judge can stop that it`s the law.I don`t think it`s enough time they should have given him that back on 1st dui 90 on 2nd 1 to 5 on 3rd.The law`s are way to laxed on 1st and 2nd.The fact the jail is not big enough and over crowded does not help matters.Evertime a vote came up for money to build a new jail or expand the jail it was voted down.The same voters that vote it down are the same one`s complaining that they just keep letting the offenders out of jail early.Now they are expanding the jail when done it still won`t be big enough.And that is a big problem with no easy fix. Maybe a death penelty for rapers murders would help things out maybe. I`m not saying that`s the fix but it just might be the only way.
Roadman
Mon, Oct 3, 2011 : 1:55 a.m.
A jury conviction for second degree murder in Michigan gives the sentencing judge discretion to impose a term of any number of years in prison up to and including a parolable life term. The Michigan Court of Appeals has approved sentences of up to 20-40 years in such murder convictions involving drunk driving. Open intoxicants in a vehicle is a misdemeanor offense with the maximium penalty of 90 dails in the county jail. The maximum sentence for an OUIL resulting in death conviction is 15 years in prison. It is going to be interesting how a jury sorts out the charges and how Archie Brown will sentence if a conviction is handed down. This case is likely going to trial because the County Prosecutor may have not wished to negotiate any plea bargain given the seriousness of the offenses.
Peregrine
Mon, Oct 3, 2011 : 12:08 a.m.
If what kochmann says is true, and I have no reason not to believe him/her, then I believe the Washtenaw County Sheriffs Office has some questions to answer. Perhaps AnnArbor.com can speak with representatives of nearby law enforcement agencies (WCSO, AAPD, etc.), ask what citizens should do under such circumstances, and report the findings.
Sallyxyz
Sun, Oct 2, 2011 : 6:24 p.m.
"Howard has not had a valid driver's license since 2003, according to police. He's also been convicted of operating while intoxicated three times and is prohibited from drinking because he is on probation for a 2008 assault conviction, according to court records. In addition to second-degree murder, which carries a maximum of life in prison, Howard is also facing a charge of operating while intoxicated causing death, operating while intoxicated causing serious injury, operating while intoxicated third offense, failing to stop at an accident causing death, failing to stop at an accident, operating with a suspended license causing death, operating with a suspended license causing serious injury, operating with a suspended license second offense and having an open container in a vehicle. Howard is also scheduled to have a probation violation hearing on Monday morning." Don't worry, folks. He'll plea bargain down to some lesser crime, serve a short time in prison, and get out on good behavior, and start the sad, sorry cycle all over again. Remember, this is Washtenaw County, where criminals get a slap on the wrist after some ridiculous plea deal. Drunk driving is not taken seriously in this county, or he wouldn't be out there now committing mayhem after 3 previous drunk driving convictions. Not to mention he hasn't had a driver's license for the last 8 years! And he's still out there killing people! What does it take to get these thugs off of the highways??? Certainly all the slaps on the wrist for previous convictions didn't make a lot of difference, did they.
Dave
Sun, Oct 2, 2011 : 5:56 p.m.
I hope, for once, the court does the right thing, locks this guy up and throws the keys away. He's done more than enough damage. After being given chance after chance (too many chances), resulting in this tragedy, he's relinquished his right of freedom.
tmk
Sun, Oct 2, 2011 : 6:21 p.m.
I use to drink and drive often, but had never caused an accident or killed any one! I am thank fulthat none of this has ever happened, I havent had alcohal in 5 years 3 months and 16 day's, scary this could have been Me! Bless You Ms Stone