Woman involved in August break-ins in Ann Arbor sentenced to up to 15 years in prison
The woman who worked with a man to break into four Ann Arbor homes on Aug. 1 was sentenced Wednesday to serve up to 15 years in prison.
Michael Johnson and Bonnie Metro
Bonnie Metro of Ypsilanti pleaded guilty in December to four counts of second-degree home invasion. Washtenaw County Trial Court Judge Archie Brown sentenced her to between 4 years and two months and 15 years in prison.
Metro and Michael Johnson admitted to breaking into homes between 9:45 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. on Aug. 1. The homes were located in the 300 block of East Jefferson Street, the 800 block of Greenwood Avenue, the 900 block of Oakland Avenue and the 1000 block of Oakwood Avenue.
A TV was stolen from one home, and electronics were stolen from two others, Metro said. Metro will pay $400 in restitution to one of the victims and the other three victims will have their restitution determined in the next 90 days, according to Brown’s ruling.
Metro broke into tears when speaking to Brown at the hearing, apologizing for her actions.
“I want to educate myself to have a better life for myself and my children,” Metro said.
Metro and Johnson both faced a total of 10 charges when originally arraigned. The plea agreement with Washtenaw County prosecutors agreed to drop six of those charges at the time of sentencing, and Brown dismissed those charges Wednesday.
The sentenced handed down by Brown on Wednesday was in accordance with Metro’s sentencing agreement between him, prosecutors and her attorneys. Johnson will serve between 6 1/2 years and 15 years in prison, according to his sentencing agreement.
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
FFan
Sat, Jan 21, 2012 : 3:13 a.m.
She looks like the educated type. I bet she would do just fine at UM.....
Bobble Disk
Fri, Jan 20, 2012 : 5:43 p.m.
Responsibility is a cornerstone of every society. Other important issues are also involved. Our justice system is overdue serious reform. Its really no more civilized than the banana republics. It just has better window dressing. It appears more rational, more civilized. At its core its primitive. We throw together property criminals, the mentally ill, adults made sociopaths by our politicized department of social services & vicious predators. Our courts are not allowed to take into account adults who never had a chance because from birth they never had anything approaching a normal life and the state failed them miserably. Punishing incarceration cannot reform. It keeps them out of circulation. Are we prepared to lock felons up for life? Its cheaper to separate them, to send property felons to different places than vicious felons. Not all aggressive felons belong in our prisons. There are better ways to deal with most of them. How many of you have any idea the superhuman task that awaits any 1st time felon when they leave prison? We serve everyone with our prison system except for those who do want to reform and the public. The main problem is failure of leadership. The career politician, the career high level bureaucrat. Both think by the quarter, the current fiscal year, the next election. Massive reform of the corrections system doesn't translate into election spin (except for "jail them all" & "let 'em eat oatmeal"), it doesn't lead to promotions in the Lansing or Washington Bureaucracy. We demand all felons procure gainful employment and let the state order them to tell every prospective employer about their felony, demand they stand on their own feet and cut them off. The report rule kills corporate jobs, as every corporate low level manager doesn't dare consider hiring an ex-felon and those who do hire them look to exploit them...
jcj
Fri, Jan 20, 2012 : 2:58 p.m.
Sometimes our justice system is a joke! I am not advocating for a lighter sentence here so much as harsher sentences for some other more destructive crimes. And I do realize this had the potential to very destructive. But so does attempted murder, which is too often pleaded down!
Fatkitty
Fri, Jan 20, 2012 : 2:25 p.m.
""I want to educate myself to have a better life for myself and my children," Metro said." Uh, gee, Bonnie, ya should've thought of a few things like that BEFORE you broke into homes and robbed people: like GETTA JOB. Start somewhere, anywhere, but find a freeking job. If you put as much effort into FINDING A JOB as you did in breaking and entering, you might have a chance. Now, you can CRY ME A RIVER. I have NO sympathy for you.
Joe
Fri, Jan 20, 2012 : 1:40 p.m.
Excellent. These sentences will be an excellent deterrent to people that think they can take the things others have worked hard for
smokeblwr
Fri, Jan 20, 2012 : 1:56 a.m.
She's bettering her family's life by ruining other peoples' lives. Nice.
Middle America
Mon, Jan 23, 2012 : 6:48 a.m.
Absolutely! If my television was stolen, my life would be completely ruined.
Pickforddick
Fri, Jan 20, 2012 : 12:56 a.m.
@theblackstallion3.........I am with you, let's keep locking them up until they get the message.
The Black Stallion3
Fri, Jan 20, 2012 : 12:49 a.m.
I am just glad to see that they are going to prison. If we need to build more prisons we can.
justcurious
Fri, Jan 20, 2012 : 12:41 a.m.
"A TV was stolen from one home, and electronics were stolen from two others, Metro said. Metro will pay $400 in restitution to one of the victims and the other three victims will have their restitution determined in the next 90 days, according to Brown's ruling." Fifteen years for this, and a drunk driver who kills someone gets much less.
Hmm
Fri, Jan 20, 2012 : 7:14 p.m.
And lets not forget the slaps on the wrist for "white collar" crimes like embezzlement where 10's and 100's of thousands of dollars are stolen yet the criminals receive 1-2 year prison sentences. Stealing is wrong either way but all this goes to show is the criminal justice system is stacked heavily against poor people and people that are not able to afford expensive attorney's.
jcj
Fri, Jan 20, 2012 : 4:18 a.m.
justcurious We have differed on much. But I am right with you on this one. It makes no sense.
Vette96drvr
Fri, Jan 20, 2012 : 1:43 a.m.
GREAT point Justcurious. Thanks for posting the link also! Shows something is wrong doesnt it.
justcurious
Fri, Jan 20, 2012 : 12:46 a.m.
<a href="http://www.annarbor.com/news/crime/man-sentenced-to-more-than-four-years-in-prison-for-fatal-drunken-driving-crash/">http://www.annarbor.com/news/crime/man-sentenced-to-more-than-four-years-in-prison-for-fatal-drunken-driving-crash/</a>
Richard
Fri, Jan 20, 2012 : 12:15 a.m.
I want to educate myself to have a better life for myself and my children,So Im gonna break into this house. With our system they will be out in notime.I would bet my life they wont even do the minimum.
snapshot
Thu, Jan 19, 2012 : 11:52 p.m.
I thought a home invasion involved taken the occupants hostage.
smokeblwr
Fri, Jan 20, 2012 : 1:55 a.m.
Home invasion just means breaking in whilst somebody is present.
RJA
Thu, Jan 19, 2012 : 11:47 p.m.
Looks like to me she might get educated in Prison to have a better life for herself and her children. When one plays crime games, they must pay. My heart goes out to her children, not even knowing their ages.