Boy, 17, pleads guilty in mob attack

MOUNT CLEMENS -- A teen pleaded guilty Friday before Macomb Circuit Judge Edward Servitto Jr. to two felony charges in connection to a mob attack on three people in Mount Clemens on May 31.
Deonte J. Williams, 17, of Mount Clemens admitted to throwing a brick through a side passenger window of a passing vehicle on North River Road near the Gibraltar Trade Center.

Williams will be sentenced Aug. 25 for creating a riot, a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison, and assault with a dangerous weapon, a four-year felony. Williams' two misdemeanor charges -- malicious destruction of property from $200 to $1,000 and assault or assault and battery -- were dismissed.

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Williams is being held in the Macomb County Jail.

"The proofs against him are overwhelming," Macomb County Assistant Prosecutor Steve Kaplan said. "He had no chance at trial."

A trial date is set for Aug. 13 for two other teens accused of participating in the attack that left one victim hospitalized with severe head injuries.

Steven D. Lincoln, 18, and Jemall R. Davidson, 16, of Clinton Township are charged with assault with intent to murder and creating a riot.

The assault charge is a felony that carries up to a life sentence with possibility of parole.

Servitto ruled that Davidson's confession -- which he gave while talking to authorities -- will be admitted since he indicated he understood his rights during the interview.

Defense attorneys for Lincoln and Davidson asked Servitto to toss out the riot and assault with intent to murder charges because they didn't feel witness testimony at the preliminary hearing provided sufficient proof of those crimes. They say one witness testified that each suspect kicked the victim just once.

Davidson's defense attorney, Randy Rodnick, said five people must be involved to be classified as a riot case.

"The testimony didn't indicate that," he said.

Servitto denied both motions, as well as defense attorneys' request for a change of venue.

"It's still fresh in the community's mind," said Micheal Kilpatrick, Lincoln's defense attorney. "I don't know how this gentleman can get a fair trial in this community."

Kaplan told the court that the request was "premature," pointing out that juries have been seated successfully for other recent high-profile murder trials in Macomb, including that of convicted wife killer Stephen Grant.

Police say the teens were part of a mob of 20-30 young men who assaulted a motorist and two others.