Man accused of 3 home invasions in negotiations for a plea deal
A 21-year-old Ypsilanti man who has been charged with 3 counts of home invasion will return to court next week after more negotiations with Washtenaw County prosecutors for a plea deal.
Troy Lewis is charged with armed robbery and assaulting and resisting an officer, in addition to the home invasion charges. Lewis was listed as one of Washtenaw County’s “Most Wanted” suspects before his arrest in July.
Troy Lewis
He will come back to court at 1:30 p.m. Thursday as his lawyer, Assistant Public Defender Christopher Renna, continues to negotiate with Washtenaw County Assistant Prosecutor Brenda Taylor on a plea deal.
Police say Lewis was arrested in the Sycamore Meadows apartment complex after a short chase, when he got out of his vehicle and fled on foot. He was wanted for a home invasion in the 100 block of Riley Court in Ypsilanti Township in March. In that incident, police say Lewis and an accomplice broke in the home, hit a resident with a gun that then went off and then fled the scene with cash.
Lewis is a suspect in another home invasion that occurred in January.
Kyle Feldscher covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kylefeldscher@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.
Comments
Mizzprinzess
Sat, Sep 24, 2011 : 3:41 a.m.
Yes, PLEA DEAL! This young man is only 21 years of age. You have no idea what this individual's life was like growing up. He had no father in his life, in fact his father is an addict and incarcerated right now. He was born to an impoverished teenaged mother and he and his siblings were taken from her as children by DHS for basically nothing. He was adopted by a local couple and attended Ann Arbor Public Schools; while there he did very well academically and was being recruited by one of the top collegiate institutions in the country. However, being away from his biological mother and his siblings was just too difficult for him so when he became of age he reunited with them. Unfortunately circumstances were not much different when he returned in fact they were worse. His 39 yr. old mother was battling cancer and ultimately lost her battle to the disease. I don't condone his actions, but this is truly one for the textbooks. Because he truly had a hard life…how many of YOU would have beat these odds if you had faced them? My guess is not many…..Troy If you are reading this I pray that you have realized the fury of your ways. I hope that you break the vicious cycle that you were born into, I pray that you realize that you are so much more than you have become and that you, one day, are able to see that you are NOT your circumstances, you still have the power by God's grace to overcome.
Sallyxyz
Sat, Sep 24, 2011 : 8:24 p.m.
This sob story is repeated thousands of times around the country every day. These poor kids from bad homes who commit serious crimes should get a slap on the wrist and "hope" they turn things around. Good luck with that approach! The crime rate in the country speaks for itself. There are hundreds of thousands of teens from bad circumstances who do NOT commit crimes, but those that do, need to suffer the consequences of their actions. That's why we have laws in this country. If every thug with a sob story was let off without paying for their crimes, no one would be in prison!
EMUStudent
Sat, Sep 24, 2011 : 5:33 p.m.
*tear rolling down my cheek* *getting another tissue* There's a reason he was Washtenaw County's "Most Wanted" suspect before his arrest in July. He broke into a home, with a gun, and it was discharged! NO plea deal!
quetzalcoatl
Fri, Sep 23, 2011 : 3:27 p.m.
No room at the inn for dangerous felons, folks. We've made our choice of who has to lie in the bed they made, and consequently we've got triple-tier bunks filled with parrot abusers, hit-and-run duck and goose assassins, aggressive panhandlers, medical marijuana outlaws and homeless buccaneers.
jjc155
Fri, Sep 23, 2011 : 2:45 p.m.
Since it does not say in the article why or for what they are negotiating it is irresponsible to deem it a bad thing. Typically pleas are a take it or leave it kind of thing. The fact that there are ongoing "negotiations" sure does make me think that there is more to it than the armchair lawyers are making it out too. Perhaps Mr Lewis can clear up manyother crimes or give up his accomplices or give up the local stolen property fence or maybe even provide info that can clear up a murder or rape or robberies. Surely some of this info would be worthy of a plea deal. Or since he is charged with Armed robbery (life offense) perhaps they are working on a plea to take and drop something else. Or they are merely working out a Cobbs agreement for sentencing. Dont forget that good, bad or indifferent our judicial system is one where u get a trial by jury. Juries are inherantly....well stupid and can and do come up with very bad verdicts despite the evidence (which by the way no one knows what that is, since it was not in the article, correct?) Its ALWAYS a craps shoot.
squidlover
Fri, Sep 23, 2011 : 3:09 p.m.
I have to disagree with your statement that it is irresponsible to deem these negotiations a bad thing. The defense attorney must believe that the evidence is strong against his client, or why else would he bother with these negotiations to reduce the charges (other than to drive up expenses for the taxpayers?). My sentiments, apparently along with many of the other posters, are that given this suspect's past criminal history and the severity of the charges, why would he deserve the opportunity to plea down to lesser charges and be given a potentially lighter sentence? The money/property that he has stolen is probably gone forever, and I doubt that he would provide credible information that would lead to a substantial bust of other criminals. That is why mandatory sentences for certain crimes are needed; so the prosecutor can say "no deals" and slam the door shut, get yet another violent criminal off of the streets and move on to prosecuting other bad guys. I will, however, agree with your statement that juries can be very stupid and render horrible verdicts. In my eyes, it doesn't justify empowering violent criminals and their attorneys the opportunity to plea down.
Ron Granger
Fri, Sep 23, 2011 : 2:22 p.m.
Given his criminal history and his use of a gun to strike someone in their home, I look forward to a plea deal that puts him behind bars for more than two decades. Nothing less. And I mention actual prison, not a 20 year sentence that turns into only 3 years of actual.
Sallyxyz
Fri, Sep 23, 2011 : 2:01 p.m.
A plea deal for ARMED robbery and home invasion??? This is ludicrous! Maybe plea deals save the taxpayers money but that is NO reason to bargain down these crimes. This was one of the "most wanted: in this area before his arrest in July, according to the article. No excuses! Home invasions can result in murder, as is the case around the country. Brenda Taylor needs to be replaced! This thug is headed for a career of crime and needs to be locked up for a long time before someone gets killed. I hope AA dot com follows up with the results of this sham plea deal. What possible reason would he have for making a plea bargain?
Gordon
Fri, Sep 23, 2011 : 1:42 p.m.
AH, plea deals save YOU the public tax dollars. Trials etc are expensive with the risk he may be found not guilty. Also, depends on the case load of the prosecutor and the court all paid for with tax dollars. As citizens we are faced with the evil we do or don't. Plea save tax dollars, no plea more court expenses, prison tax payors pay in this case it would be a savings in the length of time the prisoner is in jail. Here the police did exactly what we want / eepect them to do. Last, what about us who are expected or not (easily) allowed to violently defend our things or inclined to do so? This is one of those problems that A2 finances faces and the State of Michigan. Can we as citizens solve this devil do or don't. There are no fruit to be had from robbery and recovery. If after the goods have been sold the dollars (if recovered) are given to the State. Means the the robbed citizen and the robber have contributed to the States expense; but no way have they paid for all the cost. f you can solve this please run for office because we do need a solution.
toofmullets
Fri, Sep 23, 2011 : 1:55 p.m.
Correct. This is exactly why plea deals are done. He should be getting prison time in this deal.
Jimmy McNulty
Fri, Sep 23, 2011 : 1:11 p.m.
@ Kyle, would you please find out and include in the story the status of the suspect's bail status? Is he out or residing in the Hogback Hilton until his "negotiations" day in court? Thanks!
Kyle Feldscher
Fri, Sep 23, 2011 : 4:27 p.m.
He is being held in custody currently, Jimmy. Thanks.
Jimmy McNulty
Fri, Sep 23, 2011 : 1:13 p.m.
**My apologies for the extra "status" in the above sentence.
Fatkitty
Fri, Sep 23, 2011 : 12:23 p.m.
Plea deal? Cry me a river. This punk has nothing to offer. He has no conscience, no sense of respect or consideration for other human beings who have done NOTHING to him. But look at his photo. He thinks he's tough, he's bad, he's entitled, he's P.O.'d because of whatever cross-eyed look someone may have given him in the past. TOUGH. Rehab? Mega-fail. LOCK HIM UP.
rainbow
Fri, Sep 23, 2011 : noon
At least he is a low end armed robber..... riley ct? Other than a couple rocks,what could possibly have any value in that place?
Nephilim
Sat, Sep 24, 2011 : 2:28 a.m.
I was on Riley ct once. I got scared.......I left.
Huron74
Fri, Sep 23, 2011 : 11:38 a.m.
The magic formula for less violence around here should be that gun crime = prison time. No deals. No arguments. No excuses accepted. If ADA Taylor or DA Mackie don't see it that why then they lose my vote FWIW. Judge Morris already has.
rs
Fri, Sep 23, 2011 : 11:30 a.m.
Negotiations??? Plea bargain??? Brenda Taylor needs to be out of the prosecutor business if she needs to negotiate a plea bargain to get a conviction on this case. The Washtenaw County's Prosecutors Office is weak on crime and it doesn't have the spine to stand up to violent criminals by putting them on trial and making them take responsibility for the acts they commit. And people wonder why violent crimes are more common in our area in recent years.
mojo
Fri, Sep 23, 2011 : 11:11 a.m.
And let's not even discuss the victims here. De-evolution. Society is going nowhere but down, if our community continually learns absolutely nothing except how to 'plea' when crimes are committed.
EyeHeartA2
Fri, Sep 23, 2011 : 3:27 a.m.
<a href="http://mdocweb.state.mi.us/OTIS2/otis2profile.aspx?mdocNumber=759585" rel='nofollow'>http://mdocweb.state.mi.us/OTIS2/otis2profile.aspx?mdocNumber=759585</a> <a href="http://mdocweb.state.mi.us/OTIS2/otis2profile.aspx?mdocNumber=920534" rel='nofollow'>http://mdocweb.state.mi.us/OTIS2/otis2profile.aspx?mdocNumber=920534</a> Mr Lewis appears to have "home invaded somewhere around 5 times if I am counting correctly. <a href="http://www.legislature.mi.gov/%28S%281n5aaq55p23tjjb1ypq4dd55%29%29/mileg.aspx?page=GetObject&objectname=mcl-750-110a" rel='nofollow'>http://www.legislature.mi.gov/%28S%281n5aaq55p23tjjb1ypq4dd55%29%29/mileg.aspx?page=GetObject&objectname=mcl-750-110a</a> I suspect the negotiations are more about habitual offender and the life sentence that goes with it.
Macabre Sunset
Fri, Sep 23, 2011 : 4:11 a.m.
What, exactly, does this so-called prosecutor need to negotiate?
Tru2Blu76
Fri, Sep 23, 2011 : 2:24 a.m.
Lets remember that, right now, the second of two "home invaders" who killed a mother and two daughters after trying to beat the father / husband to death: is on trial for his life. I'm referring to the Petit Family case. This second man was still young two, but he's referred to as the planner of that horrific crime. Point being: anyone with a record of home invading is a very, very dangerous man. The aforementioned killers had never before committed any home invasions. I just hope the prosecutor and judge who are "dealing with" Mr. Troy Lewis take this into account. The prosecutor is supposed to be acting in that name of the people, not in the name of the perpetrator's alleged potential to "improve." In other words: Madam Prosecutor Taylor: PROTECT US, first
squidlover
Fri, Sep 23, 2011 : 1:50 a.m.
Plea deal? Have a heart? I'm sorry, but despite whatever his life was like growing up, anybody who commits armed robbery/home invasion (not to mention multiple times) does not deserve leniency or a plea deal. I am so sick and tired of individuals living life with the attitude of "I wan't what somebody else has, so I'm going to take it and I don't care how it may negatively affect them" while bleeding hearts and irresponsible judicial systems think it's okay to let them off easy. I have already had my car stolen, my bike stolen and my garage broken into and robbed. I for one have pretty much given up on the "justice system" until the system is ready to show me that it actually takes crime seriously by delivering appropriate punishments.
Macabre Sunset
Fri, Sep 23, 2011 : 1:26 a.m.
Sounds like Brenda Taylor needs replacing.
Mr. Ed
Fri, Sep 23, 2011 : 1:16 a.m.
Lets make a deal kinda like the game show. Door #1 15 year's in prison. Door #2 1 year in County jail. Door #3 Were soory you had no role model in your life lets fix your problems and get you a job.
Hilary Marin
Fri, Sep 23, 2011 : 1:03 a.m.
A plea deal that includes no jail time? When he committed ARMED robbery?! If the gun went off accidentally it still means he had it loaded and ready to go...what if next time it's not accidental?
Nephilim
Fri, Sep 23, 2011 : 12:56 a.m.
Another poor misunderstood youth.....probably from a broken home. Probably hasn't had a role model in his life. He needs understanding and compassion and someone to cousel him and help him understand the path he's on is not going to lead him anywhere in life. Have a heart, give him another chance to prove he can be better.
Fatkitty
Fri, Sep 23, 2011 : 1:30 p.m.
It appears that he's a repeat offender. And it's quite possible that Mr. Lewis' mother is at her wit's end about his "profession". A lot of these "poor, misunderstood youths" don't WANT the help or think they NEED it until they're facing death row. They're like addicts: sometimes they need to hit rock-bottom before they'll wake up and get with the program - if they live that long.
Roy Munson
Fri, Sep 23, 2011 : 1:12 p.m.
Maybe the judge can set him free and send him to your address to have a look around then.
jcj
Fri, Sep 23, 2011 : 12:41 a.m.
Plea Deal??? Are you kidding me? What kind of leverage does this guy have to negotiate with? That fact that there are even discussions of a plea deal makes me sick! Brenda Taylor is not working in the public's best interest!
cinnabar7071
Fri, Sep 23, 2011 : 12:32 a.m.
Negotiations?