SADO's Juvenile Lifer Unit Secures Term of Years Sentences for Clients formerly Sentenced to Life Without Parole

Michigan's Juvenile Lifers--individuals sentenced to mandatory life without parole for offenses they committed as children age 17 years old or under--are entitled to resentencing following Montgomery v Louisiana, __ US __; (Docket No. 14-280, issued 1/25/16), and pursuant to the procedures set forth in MCL 769.25a.

In July 2016, prosecutor offices around the state filed motions seeking the re-imposition of life without parole sentences for approximately 229 of Michigan's approximately 363 juvenile lifers. Resentencing hearings will take place over an expanded period of time. In these cases, the prosecution will continue to seek the re-imposition of a life sentence while defense counsel will seek the imposition of a term of years sentence, the minimum of which can be between 25 to 40 years and the maximum of which is 60 years, pursuant to MCL 769.25a.

Individuals in which county prosecutors did not seek the re-imposition of life without parole sentences will be resentenced to a term of years pursuant to MCL 769.25a.

The State Appellate Defender Office represents over 50% of Michigan's juvenile lifers.

SADO's Juvenile Lifer Unit has begun the resentencing process for a number of clients:

  1. William Washington, who had served over 40 years imprisonment for a crime that occurred when he was 17 years old, was resentenced on September 6, 2016 to 40 to 60 years. Mr. Washington was paroled on November 17, 2016. (SADO Attorney Valerie Newman).
  2. John Hall, who had served over 50 years imprisonment for a crime that occurred when he was 17 years old, was resentenced to 40 to 60 years on September 16, 2016. Mr. Hall was paroled on February 2, 2017. Read more about John's story in the Free Press and the Detroit News. (SADO Attorney Valerie Newman).
  3. Thomas Armstrong, who had served over 27 years imprisonment for a crime that occurred when he was 15 years old, was resentenced to 28 to 60 years on September 19, 2016. Thomas Armstrong was paroled on July 18, 2017. (SADO Attorney Susan Meinberg).
  4. Darnell Johnson, who had served over 40 years imprisonment for a crime that occurred when he was 16 years old, was resentenced to 40 to 60 years on September 23, 2016. Mr. Johnson was paroled on January 10, 2017. (SADO Attorney Susan Meinberg).
  5. Walter Jones, who had served over 41 years imprisonment for a crime that occurred when he was 17 years old, was resentenced to 40 to 60 years on September 23, 2016. Mr. Jones was paroled on February 17, 2017. (SADO Attorney Susan Meinberg).
  6. James Howard, who had served over 35 years imprisonment for a crime that occurred when he was 17 years old, was resentenced to 40 to 60 years on September 26, 2016. Mr. Howard was paroled on September 11, 2018. (SADO Attorney Susan Meinberg).
  7. Ahmad Williams, who had served 18 years imprisonment for a crime that occurred when he was 15 years old, was resentenced to 25 to 60 years on September 30, 2016. He will be eligible for parole in 2024. (SADO Attorney Valerie Newman).
  8. Juan Cantu, who had served over 20 years imprisonment for a crime that occurred when he was 16 years old, was resentenced to 40 to 60 years on October 21, 2016. (SADO Attorney Valerie Newman).
  9. Renard Johnson, who had served over 30 years imprisonment for a crime that occurred when he was 17 years old, was resentenced to 30 to 60 years on November 29, 2016. Mr. Johnson was paroled on May 17, 2017. (SADO Attorney Valerie Newman).
  10. Larone Harris, who had served over 29 years imprisonment for a crime that occurred when he was 15 years old, was resentenced to 25 to 60 years on December 2, 2016. Mr. Harris was paroled on September 6, 2017. (SADO Attorney Lindsay Ponce).
  11. Ronald N. Williams, who had served over 35 years imprisonment for a crime that occurred when he was 16 years old, was resentenced to 25 to 60 years on December 2, 2016, making him immediately parole eligible. (SADO Attorney Lindsay Ponce).
  12. Brian Ivory, who had served over 29 years imprisonment for a crime that occurred when he was 15 years old, was resentenced to 30 to 60 years on December 13, 2016. Mr. Ivory was paroled on May 1, 2018. (SADO Attorney Peter Van Hoek).
  13. Ferandal Reed, who had served over 25 years imprisonment for a crime that occurred when he was 16 years old, was resentenced to 25 to 60 years on December 13, 2016. Mr. Reed was paroled on July 11, 2017. (SADO Attorney Susan Meinberg).
  14. Jamie Huggins, who had served over 22 years imprisonment for a crime that occurred when he was 17 years old, was resentenced to 25 to 60 years on December 13, 2016. Mr. Huggins was paroled on October 11, 2018. (SADO Attorney Susan Meinberg).
  15. James Thomas, who had served over 29 years imprisonment for a crime that occurred when he was 15 years old, was resentenced to 27 to 60 years on December 14, 2016. Mr. Thomas was paroled on April 18, 2017.  (SADO Attorney Susan Meinberg).
  16. DiAngelo Stewart, who had served 30 years imprisonment for a crime that occurred when he was 17 years old, was resentenced to 28 to 60 years on December 14, 2016. Mr. Stewart was paroled on August 15, 2017. (SADO Attorney Valerie Newman).
  17. Eric Cammon, who had served over 27 years imprisonment for a crime that occurred when he was 17 years old, was resentenced to 28 to 60 years on December 16, 2016. Mr. Cammon was paroled on June 13, 2017. (SADO Attorney Christine Pagac).
  18. Corey Bibbs, who had served over 26 years imprisonment for a crime that occurred when he was 17 years old, was resentenced to 27 to 60 years on December 19, 2016. Mr. Bibbs was paroled on September 25, 2018. (SADO Attorney Erin Van Campen).
  19. Ramon Evans, who had served over 25 years imprisonment for a crime that occurred when he was 16 years old, was resentenced to 25 to 60 years on December 19, 2016. Mr. Evans was paroled on January 23, 2018. (SADO Attorney Erin Van Campen).
  20. Eric Brown, who had served over 29 years imprisonment for a crime that occurred when he was 16 years old, was resentenced to 28 to 60 years on December 21, 2016. Mr. Brown was paroled on April 10, 2018. (SADO Attorney Valerie Newman).
  21. Gerald Colson, who had served over 29 years imprisonment for that crime that occurred when he was 17 years old, was resentenced to 30 to 60 years on December 21, 2016. Mr. Colson was paroled on September 27, 2018. (SADO Attorney Susan Meinberg).
  22. Tkyeith Turner, who had served over 21 years imprisonment for a crime that occurred when he was 16 years old was resentenced to 25 to 60 years on December 21, 2016. (SADO Attorney Erin Van Campen).
  23. Christopher Wiley, who had served over 21 years imprisonment for a crime that occurred when he was 16 years old, was resentenced to 25 to 60 years on December 21, 2016. (SADO Attorney Peter Van Hoek).
  24. Kimberly Simmons, who had served over 28 years imprisonment for a crime that occurred when she was 17 years old, was resentenced to 29 to 60 years on January 13, 2017. Ms. Simmons was paroled on May 3, 2017. (SADO Attorney Susan Meinberg).
  25. Terrance Thomas, who had served over 29 years imprisonment for a crime that occurred when he was 16 years old, was resentenced to 28 to 60 years on January 31, 2017. Mr. Thomas was paroled on November 7, 2017.  (SADO Attorney Susan Meinberg).
  26. Devon Watts, who had served over 21 years imprisonment for a crime that occurred when she was 17 years old, was resentenced on January 31, 2017 after the prosecutor withdrew its motion seeking life without parole. Ms. Watts was resentenced to 28 to 60 years. (SADO Attorney Sofia Nelson).
  27. Antonio Williams, who had served over 24 years imprisonment for a crime that occurred when he was 17 years old, was resentenced to 26 to 60 years on February 10, 2017. Mr. Williams was paroled on July 25, 2017. (SADO Attorney Erin Van Campen).
  28. Garry Steffenhagen, who had served over 18 years imprisonment for a crime that occurred when he was 17 years old, was resentenced to 26 to 60 years on February 15, 2017. (SADO Attorney Peter Van Hoek).
  29. Ulysses Averheart, who had served over 23 years imprisonment for a crime that occurred when he was 16 years old, was resentenced to 35 to 60 years on February 16, 2017. (SADO Attorney Christine Pagac).
  30. Timothy Riddle, who had served over 27 years imprisonment for a crime that occurred when he was 15 years old, was resentenced to 29 to 60 years on February 17, 2017. Mr. Riddle was paroled on November 7, 2017.  (SADO Attorney Susan Meinberg).
  31. Tony Taylor, who had served over 32 years imprisonment for a crime that occurred when he was 15 years old, was resentenced to 33 to 60 years on February 17, 2017. Mr. Taylor was paroled on September, 27, 2017. (SADO Attorney Susan Meinberg).
  32. Jennifer Pruitt, who had served over 23 years imprisonment for a crime that occurred when she was 16 years old, was resentenced to 30 to 60 years on March 2, 2017. (SADO Contract Attorney Robyn Frankel).
  33. Roderick Elliott, who had served over 23 years imprisonment for a crime that occurred when he was 17 years old, was resentenced to 28 to 60 years on March 3, 2017. (SADO Attorney Valerie Newman).
  34. Marcus Walker, who had served over 24 years imprisonment for a crime that occurred when he was 15 years old, was resentenced to 30 to 60 years on March 10, 2017. (SADO Attorney Lindsay Ponce).
  35. Bobby Hines, who had served over 27 years imprisonment for a crime that occurred when he was 15 years old, was resentenced to 27 to 60 years on March 16, 2017. Mr. Hines was paroled on September 12, 2017. Read more about Bobby's story here, in an AP Exclusive Article. (SADO Attorney Valerie Newman).
  36. Ray Howell, who had served over 32 years imprisonment for a crime that occurred when he was 17 years old, was resentenced to 33 to 60 years on March 21, 2017. Mr. Howell was paroled on September 19, 2017. (SADO Attorney Erin Van Campen).
  37. Michael Jarrett, who had served over 23 years imprisonment for a crime that occurred when he was 16 years old, was resentenced to 27 to 60 years on March 22, 2017. Mr. Jarrett was paroled on October 23, 2018. (SADO Attorney Valerie Newman).
  38. Omair Camper, who had served over 25 years imprisonment for a crime that occurred when he was 16 years old, was resentenced to 30 to60 years on March 24, 2017. (SADO Attorney Susan Meinberg).
  39. Walter Miller, who had served over 29 years imprisonment for a crime that occurred when he was 17 years old, was resentenced to 30 to 60 years on March 30, 2017. (SADO Attorney Susan Meinberg).
  40. Timothy Lewis, who had served over 25 years imprisonment for a crime that occurred when he was 16 years old, was resentenced to 26 to 60 years on March 31, 2017. Mr. Lewis was paroled on March 27, 2018. (SADO Attorney Lindsay Ponce).
  41. Clyde Potts, who had served over 23 years imprisonment for a crime that occurred when he was 17 years old, was resentenced to 27 to 60 years on April 18, 2017. Mr. Potts was paroled on September 25, 2018. (SADO Attorney Lindsay Ponce).
  42. Demetrius Knuckles, who had served over 25 years imprisonment for a crime that occurred when he was 17 years old, was resentenced to 30 to 60 years on May 22, 2017. Mr. Knuckles was paroled on October 2, 2018. (SADO Attorney Susan Meinberg).
  43. Diarra Bryant, who had served over 17 years imprisonment for a crime that occurred when he was 17 years old, was resentenced to 35 to 60 years on May 31, 2017. (SADO Attorney Kristin LaVoy).
  44. Rodney Damon Black, who had served over 23 years imprisonment for a crime that occurred when he was 16 years old, was resentenced to 40 to 60 years on June 1, 2017. (SADO Attorney Valerie Newman).
  45. Gameliel Ware, who had served over 21 years imprisonment for a crime that occurred when he was 17 years old, was resentenced to 26 to 60 years on June 8, 2017. (SADO Attorney Chris Smith).
  46. Daniel Jones, who had served over 20 years imprisonment for a crime that occurred when he was 16 years old, was resentenced to 25 to 60 years on June 20, 2017. Mr. Jones was paroled on March 12, 2019. (SADO Attorney Erin Van Campen).
  47. Larry Irvin, who had served over 21 years imprisonment for a crime that occurred when he was 16 years old, was resentenced to 30 to 60 years on June 23, 2017. (SADO Attorney Chris Smith).
  48. Kevin Denman, who had served over 34 years imprisonment for a crime that occurred when he was 17 years old, was resentenced to 33 to 60 years on July 3, 2017. Mr. Denman was paroled on January 30, 2018. (SADO Attorney Jacqueline Ouvry).
  49. Bobby Griffin, who had served over 49 years imprisonment for a crime that occurred when he was 16 years old, was resentenced to 40 to 60 years on July 10, 2017. Mr. Griffin was paroled on February 6, 2018. (SADO Attorney Sofia Nelson).
  50. Kyle Daniel, who had served over 22 years imprisonment for a crime that occurred when he was 17 years old, was resentenced to 26 to 60 years on July 13, 2017. Mr. Daniel was paroled on September 27, 2018. (SADO Attorney Susan Meinberg).
  51. Antonio French, who had served over 14 years imprisonment for a crime that occurred when he was 17 years old, was resentenced to 28 to 60 years on August 3, 2017. (SADO Attorney Susan Meinberg).
  52. Brandon Harrington, who had served over 21 years imprisonment for a crime that occurred when he was 17 years old, was resentenced to 30 to 60 years on August 21, 2017. (SADO Attorney Erin Van Campen).
  53. Roy Jackson, who had served over 15 years imprisonment for a crime that occurred when he was 17 years old, was resentenced to 28 to 60 years on August 22, 2017. (SADO Attorney Susan Meinberg).
  54. Frederick Fields, who had served over 16 years imprisonment for a crime that occurred when he was 17 years old, was resentenced to 32 to 60 years on August 24, 2017. (SADO Attorney Lindsay Ponce).
  55. Dre'Maris Jackson, who had served over 8 years imprisonment for a crime the occurred when he was 17 years old, was resentenced to 26 to 60 years on September 1, 2017. (SADO Attorney Erin Van Campen).
  56. Walter White, who had served over 18 years imprisonment for a crime that occurred when he was 17 years old, was resentenced to 30 to 60 years on September 7, 2017. (SADO Attorney Susan Meinberg).
  57. Joseph Stanford, who had served over 17 years imprisonment for a crime that occurred when he was 17 years old, was resentenced to 28 to 60 years on September 27, 2017. (SADO Attorney Sofia Nelson).
  58. De’Shon Thomas, who had served over 20 years imprisonment for a crime that occurred when he was 17 years old, was resentenced to 30 to 60 years on October 6, 2017. (SADO Attorney Susan Meinberg).
  59. Leander Foster, who had served over 22 years imprisonment for a crime that occurred when he was 16 years old was resentenced to 33 to 60 years on October 16, 2017. (SADO Attorney Erin Van Campen).
  60. Maurice Black, who had served over 17 years imprisonment for a crime that occurred when he was 16 years old, was resentenced to 27 to 60 years on October 17, 2017. (SADO Attorney Valerie Newman).
  61. Johnny Williams, who had served over 12 years imprisonment for a crime that occurred when he was 16 years old, was resentenced to 28 to 60 years on October 25, 2017. (SADO Attorney Peter Van Hoek).
  62. Terrill Johnson, who had served over 15 years imprisonment for a crime that occurred when he was 17 years old, was resentenced to 28 to 60 years on November 16, 2017. (SADO Attorney Lindsay Ponce).
  63. Robert Whitfield, who had served over 25 years imprisonment for a crime that occurred when he was 15 years old, was resentenced to 25 to 60 years on November 29, 2017. Mr. Whitfield was paroled on September 18, 2018. (SADO Attorney Jessica Zimbelman).
  64. Karl Strunk, who had served over 29 years imprisonment for a crime that occurred when he was 16 years old, was resentenced to 30 to 60 years on December 8, 2017. Mr. Strunk was paroled on October 1, 2018. (SADO Attorney Lindsay Ponce).
  65. Leonard Williams, who had served over 26 years imprisonment for a crime that occurred when he was 16 years old, was resentenced to 35 to 60 years on February 23, 2018. (SADO Attorney Sofia Nelson).
  66. Michael Cannon, who had served over 11 years imprisonment for a crime that occurred when he was 17 years old, was resentenced to 32 to 60 years on March 7, 2018. (SADO Attorney Lindsay Ponce).
  67. Calvin Wilson, who had served over 19 years imprisonment for a crime that occurred when he was 17 years old, was resentenced to 25 to 60 years on March 21, 2018. (SADO Attorney Jessica Zimbelman).
  68. Joe Wesley, who had served over 39 years imprisonment for a crime that occurred when he was 17 years old, was resentenced to 40 to 60 years on March 26, 2018. Mr. Wesley was released on April 19, 2018. (SADO Attorney Jessica Zimbelman).
  69. James Washington, who had served over 18 years imprisonment for a crime that occurred when he was 17 years old, was resentenced to 40 to 60 years on April 17, 2018. (SADO Attorney Sofia Nelson).
  70. Kenneth Hendrick, who had served over 16 years imprisonment for a crime that occurred when he was 17 years old, was resentenced to 40 to 60 years on May 8, 2018. (SADO Attorney Lindsay Ponce).
  71. Michael Perry, who had served over 27 years imprisonment for a crime that occurred when he was 16 years old, was resentenced to 32 to 60 years on May 30, 2018. Michael Perry was paroled on November 8, 2018. (SADO Attorney Marilena David-Martin).
  72. David Clayton, who had served over 23 years imprisonment for a crime that occurred when he was 17 years old, was resentenced to 30 to 60 years on June 7, 2018. (SADO Attorney Sofia Nelson).
  73. Jesus Rodriguez, who had served over 14 years imprisonment for a crime that occurred when he was 17 years old, was resentenced to 25 to 60 years on June 12, 2018. (SADO Attorney Mike Waldo).
  74. Eddie Spiller, who had served over 25 years imprisonment for a crime that occurred when he was 17 years old, was resentenced to 25 to 60 years on October 22, 2018. Mr. Spiller was paroled on March 12, 2019. (SADO Attorney Sofia Nelson).
  75. Mario Smith, who had served over 16 years imprisonment for a crime that occurred when he was 17 years old, was resentenced to 30 to 60 years on October 24, 2018. (SADO Attorney Erin Van Campen).
  76. Gary Peters, who had served over 40 years imprisonment for a crime that occurred when he was 17 years old, was resentenced to 40 to 60 years on November 21, 2018, following a Miller hearing. Mr. Peters was released on November 21, 2018. (SADO Attorney Marilena David-Martin).
  77. Richard Simmons, who had served over 31 years imprisonment for a crime that occurred when he was 16 years old, was resentenced to 35 to 60 years on December 3, 2018, following a Miller hearing. (SADO Attorney Jessica Zimbelman).
  78. Michael McCracken, who had served over 34 years imprisonment for a crime that occurred when he was 17 years old, was resentenced to 40 to 60 years on December 4, 2018. (SADO Attorney Erin Van Campen).
  79. Cristopher Machacek, who had served over 30 years imprisonment for a crime that occurred when he was 16 years old, was resentenced to 37 to 60 years on December 18, 2018, following a Miller hearing. (SADO Attorney Sofia Nelson).
  80. Bennie Williams, who had served over 30 years imprisonment for a crime that occurred when he was 15 years old, was resentenced to 25 to 60 years on January 17, 2019. (SADO Attorney Jessica Zimbelman).
  81. Robert Maze, who had served over 22 years imprisonment for a crime that occurred when he was 15 years old, was resentenced to 35 to 60 years on January 24, 2019, following a Miller hearing. (SADO Attorney Tina Olson).
  82. Alexis Ayala, who had served over 26 years imprisonment for a crime that occurred when he was 16 years old, was resentenced to 32 to 60 years on February 13, 2019, following a Miller hearing. (SADO Attorney Jacqueline Ouvry).

 

SADO and its Juvenile Lifer Unit will continue to fight for the best possible outcomes for all clients.