2nd man charged in Ann Arbor home invasion has long criminal history, including prison escape
Wayne Sparks
Courtesy of WSCO
Sparks, of Ypsilanti, was arraigned on two first-degree home invasion charges Sunday at the Washtenaw County Jail, where he remains on a $15,000 cash or surety bond. Stallard was charged last week.
Michael Stallard
Courtesy of WCSO
While Sparks and Stallard, who is free on a $5,000 personal recognizance bond, are only charged in the Division Street home invasion, they are suspected in several others in the Ann Arbor area and more charges could be forthcoming, police said.
State records show Sparks has a long criminal history starting in 1973, when he was sentenced to a term of two years, six months to 15 years in prison on charges of breaking and entering a building with intent, uttering and publishing and violation of a drug law. The charges stem from a Washtenaw County case.
In 1977, records show Sparks escaped from prison in Jackson and committed another break-in. In August 1977, Sparks was sentenced to between two and five years for the prison escape and the additional breaking and entering charge. His prison discharge date is listed as 1985.
In 1986, Sparks was charged again with breaking and entering a building in Washtenaw County. According to the state's Offender Tracking Information System, his prison discharge date was this past January.
Police continue to investigate the cases. They urge people to lock their doors and to call the AAPD if they have had any property stolen from them recently. People are encouraged to call the Ann Arbor police anonymous tip line at 734-794-6939 or Crime Stoppers 1-800-SPEAK UP (773-2587).
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
Hemenway
Fri, Oct 5, 2012 : 8:58 a.m.
Hi John Counts, Please consider a story on the light sentences regularly offered by Judge Morris. The trend is troubling.
Billy Bob Schwartz
Thu, Oct 4, 2012 : 4:11 p.m.
"The two are accused of breaking into a house .... The method of entry was an unlocked door." Is it breaking if you don't break in? I always thought that breaking into a house meant you broke a window or kicked in a door or something? So what's the deal? BTW, I wonder what the total number of years is that this Sparks guy actually spent in captivity. Is this the thiefs version of serial monogamy? Serial incarceration? Sounds more like a life-long prison term with occasional work release.
Tru2Blu76
Thu, Oct 4, 2012 : 3:28 p.m.
Lets just keep in mind, there are other men like Mr. Wayne Sparks out there right now. And Mr. Sparks stands as a monument to persistence and determination in pursuing his chosen line of work - 39 years worth of home break-ins and thefts (despite repeated interference by police and judges). His motto: "Ahl bee back!" It could be that he stole the laptop because he wanted to set up a Facebook account. Now, if enough of us "friended him," he might soften and become less cold-eyed, calculating and predacious. (LOL!) Whatever, when I saw Sparks' photo (above) I immediately recognized him as a man I'd seen before. When I google-mapped 700 S. Division St., I realized how close the burglary was to my neighborhood (really, just a short walk). It gladdened my heart - to realize the generosity of my neighbors: leaving open their homes so that strangers might share in their boundless wealth. ;-) That's really, really, really generous of them, ain't it?
Jeffersonian Liberal
Thu, Oct 4, 2012 : 12:57 p.m.
When the ignorant electorate keeps bleeding heart liberal judges on the bench you must rely on ballistics to eradicate the vermin.
4Bells
Thu, Oct 4, 2012 : 11:49 a.m.
WOW! The Hon. Melinda Morris has earned quite the reputation for herself - pass it on. Case closed!
motorcycleminer
Thu, Oct 4, 2012 : 10:50 a.m.
Another honor student graduate of the melinda morris collecge of criminal justice....
RJA
Thu, Oct 4, 2012 : 12:58 a.m.
I'm with you BOBBY, if these guys were to break into my house, they wouldn't make it to court. (but I would)
cibachrome
Wed, Oct 3, 2012 : 10:40 p.m.
That's Ted Turner, eh? I always knew there was something crooked about his act...
martini man
Wed, Oct 3, 2012 : 9:44 p.m.
Liberal judges and parole boards ..ya gotta love 'em
GoNavy
Wed, Oct 3, 2012 : 9:23 p.m.
This man appears to be a serial recidivist. I'm saddened that, as a taxpayer, I'll have to continuously fund his incarceration for the indefinite future. Perhaps we should bring back rock-breaking, ditch-digging, gulags, etc to put these people to better use.
GoNavy
Wed, Oct 3, 2012 : 11:11 p.m.
Clara - My opinion on what we should do about people like this would likely be removed by the moderators. Suffice to say, it doesn't involve recurring taxpayer outlays -
John of Saline
Wed, Oct 3, 2012 : 11:11 p.m.
Big hamster wheel, connected to a generator to add power to the grid.
clara
Wed, Oct 3, 2012 : 9:46 p.m.
Would you rather just let him go and continue breaking into homes?
PineyWoodsGuy
Wed, Oct 3, 2012 : 9:20 p.m.
"Hang a thief when he's auld, and he'll no steal when he's ae senior citizen." — Robert MacQueen, Lord Braxfield, Lord Justice of Scotland, 1776-1799
BOBBY
Wed, Oct 3, 2012 : 8:46 p.m.
wow these old guys, committing home invasions? i wish someone like this would try to get in my place, especially while Im home.
Jack Campbell
Wed, Oct 3, 2012 : 8:45 p.m.
Why are these two bums not locked up for life? Melinda Morris is detriment to Washtenaw county.
martini man
Wed, Oct 3, 2012 : 9:46 p.m.
She's a liberal judge ..'nuff said !!!
smokeblwr
Wed, Oct 3, 2012 : 8:33 p.m.
At least we have that new handgun store. That should keep the crooks out of our town!
Billy
Wed, Oct 3, 2012 : 8:23 p.m.
Gonna keep saying it... YAY RECIDIVISM!!!!!
YpsiVeteran
Wed, Oct 3, 2012 : 8:22 p.m.
Does anyone know why oh why habitual offender convictions are not pursued in this state? After three strikes, he should have been locked up for life. Period. How many times do you have to prove you have no intention of being anything other than a leach on society?
YpsiVeteran
Thu, Oct 4, 2012 : 3:50 a.m.
So what you're saying, halflight, is that we can only charge people with what we know they'll plead guilty to? Is it because we have such an incompetent group of prosecutors that they can't or won't actually try a case and get a conviction? "Oh no. We can't charge a habitual offender with being a habitual offender, because he won't plead to that and we might actually have to go to court." That's PATHETIC. It's also not how it works in other states. In other states, habitual offenders don't even get offered plea deals. Yet, the same prosecutor keeps getting reelected in this county.
halflight
Wed, Oct 3, 2012 : 9:56 p.m.
Habitual offender charges are pursued; but, for obvious reasons, a habitual offender defendant is unlikely to plead guilty to a charge that could land him in prison for life. So the prosecutor often bargains away the habitual offender count to get a guilty plea on the remaining counts. One of the downsides of harsh sentences is that defendants won't plead guilty. You may think that's great until the county has to hire more prosecutors, judges and public defenders (not to mention other court staff) because every defendant demands a jury trial.
clara
Wed, Oct 3, 2012 : 9:45 p.m.
To get the offender to plead guilty the prosecutor dismisses the habitual offender charge, and often let them plead to a lesser offense, home invasion 3rd instead of home invasion first degree.. With the lesser charges, the sentencing guideline range goes down and all that is left is a lighter sentence.
Homeland Conspiracy
Wed, Oct 3, 2012 : 8:41 p.m.
3 strikes is for baseball not law enforcement!
Billy
Wed, Oct 3, 2012 : 8:23 p.m.
Pretty sure Michigan leads the country in recidivism. That's not your answer...but it's a partial explanation.
A2brooksie
Wed, Oct 3, 2012 : 8:18 p.m.
Messa, if you spoke to anyone in law enforcement either with the Ann Arbor PD, or the Washtenaw County Sherriffs office, they would likely shock you as to the amount of goods Mr. Sparks has likely stolen in his carear!
A2brooksie
Wed, Oct 3, 2012 : 8:12 p.m.
oh yea, any surprise his judge was....... yes, Melinda Morris, big surprise here!!!!
A2brooksie
Wed, Oct 3, 2012 : 8:11 p.m.
This Wayne Sparks "gentlemen" should be a poster boy for whats wrong with our criminal justice system. He commits many repeat crimes, is sentenanced to very short terms despite being a repeat offender by our judges. Then the State parole board paroles them on the very first day of being eligible for parole. On his last conviction he recd a minimum one year term, and was paroled on his first day of eligibility. How many times do we ask the police to catch someone, the prosecuters office to convict someone, only to have a judge give him a short sentence and have the parole board parole them. In his last case, Brian Mackie showed up personally and basically begged the judge for a long sentence because he felt he was so likely to repeat once out. Of course, the judge ignored the plea and his incredibly long rap sheet and gave him a one year sentence. Here we go again!!!!
OLDTIMER3
Thu, Oct 4, 2012 : 11:41 a.m.
Just send him to Melinda so she can slap his hand.
anti-thug
Wed, Oct 3, 2012 : 8:45 p.m.
well prison system is fled and only increase anger on felons minds...we need new plan to control crimals.. im thinking chip tech.
nickcarraweigh
Wed, Oct 3, 2012 : 8:07 p.m.
Wall Street money managers know this is what may happen without wise retirement planning
halflight
Wed, Oct 3, 2012 : 9:50 p.m.
Stupid occupy rhetoric. Despite the best efforts of some, participating in capital markets continues to be legal in the United States. Most Wall Street money managers are honest, just like people in any other profession.
Messa
Wed, Oct 3, 2012 : 8:12 p.m.
Wall Street money managers steal more on a daily basis than these two did in their whole lives.