The 31-year-old Oxford man accused of attacking and maiming an Oakland Township woman, including biting off her ear, pleaded not guilty before Magistrate Kelley Kostin in the 52-3 District Court on April 25.
Patrick Andrew LaFleur was arraigned on one account each of kidnapping, maiming, felonious assault and assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder. A charge of unlawful flight to avoid prosecution was used strictly by authorities for apprehension and will not be prosecuted. The kidnapping charge carries a maximum of a life sentence, the maiming and assault each carry a maximum of 10 years or $5,000, and the felonious assault carries a maximum of four years or $2,000.
The four felony charges stem from June 2001 when LaFleur allegedly attacked an Oakland Township woman in her home. During the more than five hour assault, the victim states LaFleur beat her, threatened her with a knife, bit off her ear and spit it at her, tried to get her to commit suicide, attempted to drown her and tried to gouge out her eyes. He then took her to her car and told her they were going to a remote location where he was going to kill her.
The Oakland Township woman said she managed to escape after LaFleur left her in the car to go back into her house and get some money. Since that night in June, she has undergone several surgeries, changed addresses, and purchased a gun and guard dog for her home. The victim said she has lived in continuous fear for herself and her family ever since.
LaFleur fled after the attack from his Longmeadow St. home in Oxford to Texas on June 3, 2001, with the aid of a relative. He spent almost two years on the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department’s Most Wanted List before being apprehended by authorities on March 12, 2003, in Austin, Texas.
At the time of his arrest, LaFleur had changed his appearance by dying his black hair blonde, trimming it short, not wearing a hair piece and removing his facial hair. His thinning hair was still blonde at the time of his hearing.
In a letter to this reporter received on March 28, 2003, LaFleur stated his view of the June 2001 attack. In the letter he writes that the Oakland Township woman had been blackmailing him and ‘on one occasion even extorted a guitar from (him).? He also says that she ‘started the assault by trying to drive a kitchen knife through (his) chest repeatedly.?
LaFleur continues to write that the victim informed him she would lie about the events of June 1, 2001, and ‘that’s why (he) fled.? He states several times throughout the letter that many more facts will come to light during the course of the trial.
During his arraignment, LaFleur requested a court appointed attorney, but said he may hire his own as the case progresses. When asked to verify his address, LaFleur said he had been living in Oxford, but has since been in Texas.
‘Is that what took you so long to get here, you were in Texas?? asked Magistrate Kostin. ‘Were you aware that this case was pending??
LaFleur responded that he was well aware of the case.
Sheriff’s detectives working the case requested for the magistrate to set a high cash bond, despite the fact that LaFleur could not be released due to a parole violation.
According to Detective Greg Glover of the Sheriff’s Department’s Fugitive Apprehension Unit, LaFleur was on parole for aggravated stalking at the time of the alleged attack. Therefore, the magistrate could have set the bond for ?50 cents? and he ‘couldn’t have gotten out anyways.?
However, Glover said they wanted a high cash bond in case the judicial system addresses the parole violation before the criminal case is concluded. Detectives informed Magistrate Kostin that LaFleur is a flight risk based on his time away in Texas. Also, he has a previous record showing that he stayed in Phoenix, Ariz. while fleeing a previous case and had to be extradited.
Glover added that LaFleur’s previous record, which includes time in prison for aggravated stalking and numerous other complaints and arrests, and the nature of his charges demonstrates he is a danger to the public.
‘We wanted to make sure he didn’t have an opportunity to flee again,? said Glover.
‘It won’t matter how high you set it,? said LaFleur. ‘I won’t be able to get out.?
Magistrate Kostin set bond at $250,000 and scheduled LaFleur’s preliminary exam for Monday, May 5, at 1:15 p.m. at the 52-3 District Court before Judge Julie Nicholson.