Court: Oil pit hazards open and obvious
BALDWIN (AP) — The Michigan appeals court says hazards usually are open and obvious at oil change shops.
In a 3-0 decision, the court agreed with a Lake County judge who dismissed a lawsuit filed by a man who fell into a pit while taking his car for an oil change.
The incident happened five years ago at Pat’s Pit Stop in Baldwin.
Robert Thomas got out of the car to say hello to the owner when he fell into the pit under his vehicle. He suffered several injuries, including nerve damage to his left shoulder.
The appeals court says Thomas knew about the pit and would have noticed it was uncovered if he hadn’t waved at the owner.
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Man charged in killing sentenced in drug case
PORT HURON (AP) — A man charged with killing a 14-year-old girl in July as she walked her dog in southeastern Michigan has been sentenced in a separate drug case.
James VanCallis, 32, of Wales Township told the court in St. Clair County last week that “marijuana has been a problem that’s been ongoing as far as it’s hindered me more than helped me.”
The Times Herald of Port Huron reports he was sentenced to a year in jail.
VanCallis earlier pleaded guilty to manufacturing marijuana. His father also pleaded guilty to manufacturing marijuana.
Authorities say James VanCallis hit April Millsap with a motorcycle helmet and stomped on her in Armada near a popular Macomb County trail. He’s charged with first-degree murder and assault with intent to rape. He’s due in court next month.
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Teen who faked abduction gets probation
MONROE (AP) — An 18-year-old from Michigan who faked her own disappearance and even put an ad on Craigslist to find an abductor has been placed on probation for three years.
Hayley Turner of Temperance didn’t speak during her recent appearance in Monroe County Circuit Court.
She must perform 29 days of community service and pay $15,200 to the sheriff’s office for the 17-hour search.
Turner pleaded guilty to causing a false police report to be filed.
She claimed to have been abducted at gunpoint last August in Bedford Township, just north of the Ohio-Michigan border.
She was found safe with a puppy, 16 hours later in Ecorse, near Detroit.
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Teen who beat politician won’t go to jail
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A teenager who severely beat former Hennepin County board chairman Mark Andrew at the Mall of America last year won’t go to jail for her crime — and he’s glad she won’t.
Eighteen-year-old Deea LeShawn Elliot pleaded guilty to first-degree assault for attacking Andrew with a metal baton last December after her accomplice stole his cell phone.
A judge recently sentenced her to 14 weeks of intensive counseling and a year-long immersion in an arts program of her choice.
She won’t go to jail if she meets those conditions.
Andrew tells Minnesota Public Radio he strongly believes in redemption, and the way to turn her life around is not to send her to prison.
Andrew met face-to-face with Elliot in court last week. She repeatedly said she was sorry.
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