Bond increased for man accused of killing infant
A judge on Monday increased the bond for a man charged with first-degree murder in the death of his infant son, after he admitted to assaulting a man in the Macomb County Jail.
Judge Edward Servitto of Macomb County Circuit Court raised the bond from $300,000 cash or surety to $500,000 cash or surety for Laquan Williams.
Assistant Macomb Prosecutor Molly Zappitell pointed out Williams pleaded guilty earlier in the day in 41B District Court in Clinton Township to aggravated assault and conspiracy to commit aggravated assault for beating a man suspected of stealing. Three other inmates also were charged.
Williams, 20, was immediately sentenced to timeserved, 27 days, and two years probation by Judge Sebastian Lucido, according to court records.
Zappitell also noted concerns about Williams posting bond because it appears he would not have a place to reside upon release. Williams grew up in foster care and was living in a motel when he allegedly inflicted fatal injuries upon his son, she said.
Williams is charged with felony murder and first-degree child abuse on the allegations he caused the fatal injuries to his son April 10, 2020, at a Warren motel where he was staying with the child’s mother. The 3-month-old boy was taken to Ascension Macomb Hospital in Warren and transferred to Detroit Receiving Hospital, where he later died, according to Warren police.
Prosecutors are giving Williams until May 21 to decide whether to plead guilty or go to trial, which is scheduled for June 16. If he rejects the deal, a final pretrial will be held May 26, the judge said.
First-degree murder carries a mandatory penalty of life in prison without parole while second-degree murder carries a penalty of any number of years up to life.