Attorney: Man accused of killing 15-month-old boy likely to take plea deal
![michael_curtiss[1].jpg](http://www.annarbor.com/assets_c/2012/10/michael_curtiss[1]-thumb-150x186-125553.jpg)
Michael Curtiss
The 34-year-old Ypsilanti Township man accused of killing a 15-month-old boy while baby-sitting will probably take a plea deal before the case goes to trial, his attorney said during a court hearing Tuesday.
Michael Curtiss appeared briefly before Judge Donald Shelton where his attorney asked that the pretrial hearing be adjourned one week
"We do believe at that time this matter will be resolved," said Lorne Brown, of the Washtenaw County Public Defender's Office, hinting that a plea deal is in the works.
Shelton granted the request and another final pretrial hearing was scheduled for March 26. If no deal is reach, a trial is set to begin April 15.
Curtiss is accused of pushing Chase Miller into a TV stand while baby-sitting for the boy last October. Miller suffered blunt force trauma to the head and died. The 15-month-old was the son of Curtiss' girlfriend, who was working at the time. Curtiss was snorting heroin the night of the incident, according to court testimony.
Curtiss is charged with open murder, first-degree child abuse and possession of less than 25 grams of heroin. He remains held in the Washtenaw County Jail without bond.
John Counts covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at johncounts@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.
Comments
vintagetimes4me
Sun, Mar 24, 2013 : 4:09 p.m.
I pray the courts give him what he gave that boy - a long and horrible death . May each day he spends in jail may he be hurt in ways that are unthinkable. even then, is it justic for the baby?
Heartbroken
Sat, Mar 30, 2013 : 4:01 p.m.
You should know the facts! There was no long an horrible death were do you people get this info. There will never be justice for baby chase. But to wish harm like this to a human makes me sick you are no better than him!
nickcarraweigh
Thu, Mar 21, 2013 : 11:57 p.m.
Plea deals are supposed to be made to free up court time for full prosecution of heinous cases. If ever there was a heinous case, this is it. Any kind of deal here makes no sense to me.
Heartbroken
Thu, Mar 21, 2013 : 4:29 p.m.
We should all not believe everything we read!! Before you judge others make sure your own skeletons don't come out!! What has happened here was a terrible accident and their are many people suffering!
Heartbroken
Sat, Mar 30, 2013 : 3:58 p.m.
We all have a heart for this beautiful little boy! Again judgment against others! Now our judging me!! Lol
vintagetimes4me
Tue, Mar 26, 2013 : 1:28 a.m.
Heartbroken its you that seems off. I don't care how good of a man he was. Lets look at how he ended that baby's life. Dead is dead. The only way he will ever be of use to this world is time spent behind bars then going from school to school telling teens what drugs did to him. And teach what they could do to them. I have a heart. But it bleeds for the very dead baby.
Heartbroken
Mon, Mar 25, 2013 : 1:24 p.m.
And when he stands before god only god can judge him! Do not judge and you will not be judged. Do not condemn and you will not condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Until you have walked a mile in my shoes. Don't suggested I need checked out!! It amazes me that all you people past so much judgment on others!! Eric252 did you read somewhere that I suggested that?? Until you have dealt with addiction again don't past judgement!!
vintagetimes4me
Sun, Mar 24, 2013 : 4:07 p.m.
I will stand before God and Man with what I have done in life -- for what he did is he nothing less than a monster. of course everyone is hurting -- what he did is horrible. It's so bad in fact that strangers like myself are hurting for that child. you might want to check yourself out and look in that same mirror and ask how you could have any pitty on a man, that did what he did to that baby! No pitty - no deal - he needs to rot in jail like the dirty rat he is. If only due to this 1 action!
Eric252
Thu, Mar 21, 2013 : 10:29 p.m.
are you suggesting that the heroin accidentilly fell up his nose??
Nick Danger
Thu, Mar 21, 2013 : 10:56 a.m.
What kind of a ples deal was the innocent child offered? Take this case to trial
Aaron
Thu, Mar 21, 2013 : 2:47 a.m.
Hopefully the plea deal is for life in prison.
justcurious
Wed, Mar 20, 2013 : 10:05 p.m.
Why does there need to be any "deal"? There is always a "deal". Why do these people have bargaining powers? Is it purely economics? The articles said he tortured this little boy. My heart breaks for him.
Heartbroken
Mon, Mar 25, 2013 : 1:28 p.m.
Rn217 don't believe everything you read! Until you hear it from his mouth!
RN217
Fri, Mar 22, 2013 : 8:18 p.m.
Heartbroken- there was a previous article containing quite a few details the defendant had told police that to most, would be considered "torture".
Heartbroken
Thu, Mar 21, 2013 : 4:41 p.m.
Justcurious were in this article did you read he tortured this little boy?? I've never read that nor did I hear that.
Angry Moderate
Thu, Mar 21, 2013 : 1:14 a.m.
Let's not take the chance that 1 juror says not guilty.
Billy
Wed, Mar 20, 2013 : 10:45 p.m.
They make "deals" because the reality of the matter is that the court system is horribly flawed and almost intentionally designed to waste time through unecessary procedure. As such...anything that expedites things is always preferable...a guilty plea means there won't be a trial, and that saves the court a LOT of time.....and NOTHING is as valuable in the court system as time. So you're right...they shouldn't have deals....but because of the flawed system they're actually better for everyone than forcing trials.
John Counts
Wed, Mar 20, 2013 : 9:55 p.m.
Just because a "deal" is struck doesn't necessarily affect the severity of punishment in any case. For instance, prosecutors may drop the heroin charge if Curtiss pleads guilty to the murder and child abuse charge and he could still be sentenced to life in prison. However, if Curtiss agrees to plead guilty to all or some of the charges, the prosecution could offer some sort of sentencing relief. Sentencing agreements range widely depending on the case.
JRA
Wed, Mar 20, 2013 : 9:08 p.m.
it disgusts me that this monster cmay possibly be given a plea deal instead of having the book thrown at him.