- Posted July 18, 2014
- Tweet This | Share on Facebook
Teens sentenced in home invasion, death
PONTIAC (AP) - An Oakland County judge has sentenced one teenager to life in prison while giving his co-defendant at least 42 years in the slaying of a 27-year-old Pontiac man during a home invasion.
The two were 16 and 17 when they committed the felony murder in 2012, and the U.S. Supreme Court bars Michigan from automatically imposing its mandatory life, no parole sentence against juvenile convicts.
On Wednesday, Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Rudy Nichols sentenced 19-year-old Jonathan Hickerson to life and 18-year-old Donald James to 42-62 years for murder and firearms charges.
Authorities say the teens invaded Adrian Contreras's Pontiac home and shot him. Contreras's brother Brian shot back, hitting Hickerson's face.
Before the sentencing, Hickerson apologized to his and the victim's families, saying he doesn't deserve to ever go free.
Published: Fri, Jul 18, 2014
headlines Oakland County
- Annual Dinner & Meeting
- FORCE Team arrests six in prolific auto theft ring
- Michigan allocates $12 million to support community-based organizations in advancing environmental and climate justice
- Oakland County and SMART launch pilot program providing free transit for veterans and dependents
- Supreme Court sides with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
headlines National
- More lawyers—and clients—want to learn about sustainable development practices
- Top artificial intelligence insurance tips for lawyers
- Lawyer charged with illegally transmitting Michigan data after 2020 election
- Viral video shows former Rikers Island inmate as she learns she passed bar exam on first try
- How Sullivan & Cromwell is scrutinizing potential new hires after campus protests
- No separate hearing required when police seize cars loaned to drivers accused of drug crimes, SCOTUS rules