Lansing
New laws deter poaching and trespassing
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — New Michigan laws are in effect to deter poaching of antlered bucks and hunters who trespass on private land.
The state now has a progressive penalty system for poaching deer, with higher fines if antlered deer have more points. Illegally killing a 10-point buck brings $7,000 in restitution plus fines and court costs.
Poachers also will lose their hunting privileges for a longer period of time. Poachers who kill an antlered buck could lose their license for six years total and 11 years for subsequent offenses.
Under another new law, landowners can recover $750 or actual property damages from people who trespass to hunt or engage in other recreational activity. That’s triple the old civil damages.
The state said Monday the laws especially crack down on hunters targeting trophy deer.
Detroit
Conviction tossed in case of man convicted of arson
DETROIT (AP) — A court has thrown out an arson conviction in the case of a Detroit building collapse that paralyzed a firefighter.
A federal appeals court says the trial judge put too many restrictions on Calvin Jones’ defense. Jones claimed he set the fire because he had been threatened by a co-defendant, Samson Wright. But he wasn’t allowed to tell jurors about threats that occurred long before the fire.
The appeals court on Tuesday reversed Jones’ conviction and 15-year prison sentence.
Detroit firefighter Brendan Milewski was paralyzed while trying to extinguish the fire at a commercial building in 2010.
Separately, Wright faces trial on April 8. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison, but the punishment was thrown out because the length violated a plea deal.
East Lansing
Cases advance in rowdy celebration
EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Criminal cases are advancing against those charged following a rowdy celebration of Michigan State’s victory over Ohio State in the Big Ten football championship game.
The Lansing State Journal reports 27 people, mostly MSU students, have been charged in the disorders late Dec. 7 and early Dec. 8 in East Lansing.
Court records show seven people entered guilty pleas that have been taken under advisement. In those cases, the defendants initially were charged with being within 300 feet of an open fire.
