Two 17-year-old Clarkston men waived their right to a preliminary examination this week, and 52-2 District Judge Dana Fortinberry forwarded their burglary case for a yet-to-be scheduled date in Oakland County Circuit Court.
Dwayne Allen Metcalf and Robert Allen Sauerwald were returned to the Oakland County Jail in shackles Monday, June 14 after Fortinberry denied requests to reduce their bond from $100,000 cash or surety.
The suspects are being prosecuted for home invasion, breaking and entering and breaking and entering to a vehicle in connection with a June 3 incident at Maranatha Baptist Church and a nearby home.
Assistant prosecutor Sandra Scott said there is ongoing investigation into the men’s possible involvement in a number of breakins and one arson in Brandon Township.
In separate appearances before Fortinberry, defense attorneys cited the suspects? youth and relatively clean record in seeking a lower bond.
?[Sauerwald’s] only serious infraction is that he skipped school,? William Mitchell said.
Attorney Arthur Landau admitted Metcalf was on probation on a disorderly person conviction but enjoyed ‘complete family support? in the proceedings.
Scott disagreed, citing other potential charges and warning of future possible offenses.
‘There’s continued concern for public safety,? she said, and Fortinberry agreed.
Metcalf and Sauerwald were arrested after a traffic stop in which deputies found a Palm Pilot, a Game Boy and a radar detector in the glove compartment, and a stolen motorcycle in the bed of the suspects? pickup truck and beer inside the vehicle.
While the two suspects were being arrested, other deputies were able to confirm ownership of items taken from the church office and the nearby home.
Also included in items found in the pickup truck were two portable CD players, assorted CDs, skis, a remote control car and a NASCAR collectible photograph of Dale Earnhardt.
In interviews with detectives, the suspects admitted breaking into approximately 20 vehicles in Brandon Township on June 1, stealing items from some but not all. They also admitted setting fire to a storage shed behind the Cracker Barrel market on Oak Hill and Sashabaw roads.