Man accused in box cutter assault refuses plea deal, will head to trial

By John Counts Crime and courts reporter

Posted on Wed, Jul 25, 2012 : 7:32 p.m.

Kevin Franklin

Courtesy of the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office

The Ypsilanti man accused of attempting to slice another man's throat with a box cutter has been given a trial date.

Kevin Nashon Franklin, 35, declined a plea offer from prosecutors when he appeared for a hearing in the Washtenaw County Trial Court Tuesday. Judge Donald Shelton scheduled a jury trial for the case at 8 a.m. Oct. 1. A final pretrial hearing was set for Sept. 11.

The plea deal offered by Assistant Washtenaw County Prosecutor Blaine Longsworth would have dropped three charges if Franklin pleaded guilty to the main charge, assault with intent to murder.

Franklin also is charged with two counts of assault with intent to do great bodily harm and carrying an unlawful weapon (the box cutter). He is accused of attacking a 43-year-old Superior Township man last August in the 9100 block of MacArthur Boulevard in Superior Township.

Tags: assault