Man nearly pleads guilty to 13 felonies before rejecting plea deal
The man accused of committing home invasions around Washtenaw County while out on bond nearly pleaded guilty Monday to all 13 felonies he faces before he reconsidered.
Javare Holmes
Courtesy of WCSO
Javare Holmes, 18, started to accept a deal that would have seen him plead guilty to nine counts of first-degree home invasion and one count each of second-degree home invasion, larceny in a building, receiving and concealing stolen property worth more than $1,000 but less than $20,000 and assaulting, resisting or obstructing a police officer. In exchange, prosecutors would have agreed to the sentencing guidelines that Washtenaw County Trial Court Judge Darlene O'Brien would use.
O’Brien was in the process of reading Holmes his rights when the hearing was passed. When O’Brien asked Holmes if he was forced or coerced by anyone to take the plea deal, a woman in the courtroom began saying, “Say yes! Say yes!” repeatedly. The woman was identified as Holmes’ mother.
O’Brien decided to pass the hearing to allow Holmes to speak with his attorneys. He then decided to seek new counsel and did not accept the deal. Washtenaw County Assistant Prosecutor Brenda Taylor was not pleased and stated the possible consequences of Holmes’ decision.
“That would allow us to have discretionary consecutive sentencing,” Taylor said. The deal originally would have had agreed upon guidelines for Holmes’ sentencing.
She added, “The offer will be the exact same no matter what attorney is hired.”
On each charge of first-degree home invasion, Holmes faces a maximum of 20 years in prison. Second-degree home invasion carries a maximum of 15 years in prison. If Holmes is convicted on all counts and is given consecutive sentencing, he could face 208 years in prison.
Holmes was charged in May 2012 with first-degree home invasion and assaulting, resisting or obstructing a police officer. He paid $2,000 to bond out of jail on that case and then went on the lam, missing a pretrial hearing. Police believe he committed nine more home invasions during the time frame that he was wanted on a bench warrant.
He was eventually arrested on March 9 after a search warrant was served on a home in the 1400 block of Kirtland Drive in Ann Arbor. Guitars, violins, computers, televisions, GPS units, cellphones, watches, laptops and digital cameras were recovered from the home.
The evidence was linked to home invasions in Ann Arbor, Pittsfield Township and the jurisdiction of the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office.
Holmes was given court-appointed lawyers but will now seek private counsel. His current attorneys, Washtenaw County Assistant Public Defender Robin Stephens and Michael Friese, will still be his representatives until his next hearing, at 1:30 p.m. June 3.
Holmes is being held in the Washtenaw County Jail on a $25,000 bond.
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
Jay Thomas
Wed, May 15, 2013 : 3:38 a.m.
Anyway, another case of "my baby didn't do nuffin."
Nicholas Urfe
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 7:55 p.m.
I hope this guy goes to trial. And then Kyle can report his side of the story, and how all that stuff was allegedly found at his residence.
The Infinite Jester
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 7:42 p.m.
is there a map of his suspected home invasions?
Greg
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 5:28 p.m.
Home invasions have a likelyhood to go violent when the perp mistakingly runs into somebody still home. If this guy is left out on the streets, likely it is just a matter of time until he gets an assualt or murder added to his resume.
Nicholas Urfe
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 8:54 p.m.
anti-thug: google the terms home invasion death And then tell us again how the news you see reported there supports your "more likely to run away" theory. Especially the first link you see, which should cover a story in North Bend.
anti-thug
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 5:59 p.m.
assuming that all burglars are violent then watch too many movies...he would be more likely to run away.
pegret
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 5:12 p.m.
Did the mother and son live at the Kirtland Dr. address where "Guitars, violins, computers, televisions, GPS units, cellphones, watches, laptops and digital cameras were recovered"?
pegret
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 2:23 p.m.
Ah, that's what I thought. Maybe she thought they were early Mother's Day gifts from her little darling?
Jay Thomas
Wed, May 15, 2013 : 3:34 a.m.
Yes, but the mother just thought he found all of those items.
A2ron
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 3:46 p.m.
Can the defendant petition the courts for a new mother in addition to new council?
Superior Twp voter
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 3:10 p.m.
O K. Go to trial then, please.
jondhall
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 2:28 p.m.
@ Billy It's caused raising a child not rearing a child, a parent has certain assumed responsibilities , when they take on that role. I'm not into supporting this kid for the rest of his life in a penal system that is a total failure. He is 18 years young and stupid, he was not raised right . We are likely already supporting his mother, give the kid a chance life in prison for this us pure BS! I'm on record .
jcj
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 3:35 p.m.
I suspect the record will show he has had numerous chances! I'm on record!
jondhall
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 2:13 p.m.
If his mother offered any guidance he would likely not be there. I find it terrible that a young man 18 years young is facing the rest of his life in prison. He is a thief not a violent murderer!! The prosecutor can kiss my potatoes .
Jay Thomas
Wed, May 15, 2013 : 3:32 a.m.
I doubt he will see that kind of time.
Elouise
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 5:16 p.m.
I'd like to point out that my mother did the best she could guiding me through my adolescence and I STILL went out and got into trouble. You can't blame the mother %100. Do you have any idea how much trouble a kid can get into between the time they get home from school and the time their parent gets home from work? Maybe the mother in this situation worked two jobs just to support the child and keep a roof over their heads. All of the trouble I myself got into was not because my mom wasn't there or didn't guide me, it was because of the friends I had and kept a secret from her. My mom worked long hours just so she could provide since my father was gone, therefore I had a lot of time to do whatever I wanted. This might be the case here. Don't just assume that because the kid is a criminal that his parents are bad people. There are children of preachers who grow up and become murderers. The mother should have kept her mouth shut in the courtroom, yeah, but I'm sure her emotions were soaring. If she didn't care why would she show up to begin with? The woman is probably worried sick about her son and all you can do is judge her for not guiding him? Talk about pitch forking and torching... And I'm sure you're thinking, "oh this person knows them, of course she's siding with them,". You are wrong if that even crossed your mind. What I do know is the situation of parenting. I was raised by a single parent who worked hard and was a good Christian. She guided me the best she could on top of all other things she did for us. All of her guidance couldn't prevent me from shoplifting at age 16 or getting MIPs or even possession of marijuana. That's not because of lack of guidance, it's because I was a dumb kid and did what I wanted to regardless. Am I saying that the kid should be excused from what he's done? No. I'm saying that the judgement towards the mother is UNFAIR, especially not knowing the situation at home.
jcj
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 3:34 p.m.
Are you sure this thief has not stolen your potatoes?
Billy
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 2:22 p.m.
"If his mother offered any guidance he would likely not be there." I disagree...I have a feeling it was the advice offered by his mother that ultimately was responsible for his position within the justice system. "I find it terrible that a young man 18 years young is facing the rest of his life in prison." Really? Well I find it terrible that someone who's so young has already learned that all they need to do in life to "succeed" is to take things from others. If he has such a lack of respect for others at this young of an age, what will he be like in another 18 years? How much damage will he have caused in another 18 years?
Billy
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 11:41 a.m.
Cool...his mom's is clearly smart in that she think's her son will be offered a better plea deal. She's about to learn the hard way that you NEVER EVER get a better deal offered the second time around. She just sent her son to jail for even longer.....
Jay Thomas
Wed, May 15, 2013 : 3:32 a.m.
It's Washtenaw County... we'll see.
mermaid72
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 12:30 p.m.
This would have been a perfect story for Mother's Day.
Elaine F. Owsley
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 11:07 a.m.
The sad part of these stories is that, while this young criminal is safe and warm and fed in prison, some other young person, who has done no wrong, is homeless and sleeping on the streets. Doesn't make much sense, does it?
quintessentially
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 2:08 p.m.
got news for you lady, prison isn't safe or warm...are you serious?! Ann arbor has several shelters for homeless people not to mention the churches involvement in the matter, and you're saying he's "safe" and "warm" in prison...wow. That doesn't make much sense, does it?
Jay Thomas
Wed, May 15, 2013 : 3:31 a.m.
She just meant about the housing and feeding part. Sheesh.
anti-thug
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 5:55 p.m.
prison sound like camp cupcake martha .
anti-thug
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 5:54 p.m.
yes prison makes a good home...... ahhaha..
Samuel Burns
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 5:26 p.m.
You meant "young alleged criminal", right? Innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
jondhall
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 2:10 p.m.
I hear there is living proof that not all Wackos are yet locked up Elaine! You got an extra bed offer it to them ?
WalkingJoe
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 11:48 a.m.
And we should just let the criminals go free so they can keep robbing and stealing or worse?
smokeblwr
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 11:13 a.m.
So lets lock up the homeless people in prison then?
cinnabar7071
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 10:46 a.m.
Maybe the school board can get involved.