Thread: Mich Murderer may be released..

UPDATE: Judge orders release of man convicted of rape and murder
Wayne Lee Stevens




Phil Dawson


Created: 10/22/2007 6:05:38 PM
Updated: 10/22/2007 7:12:23 PM


Muskegon - Unless Muskegon County prosecutors can convince an appeals court to intervene, killer Wayne Lee Stevens will walk out of prison at 1:00 P.M. Wednesday.

"Our goal is keep him in prison as long as we legally can," says Muskegon County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Brett Gardner.

54 year old Wayne Lee Stevens was sentenced to 40 years in prison for sexually mutilating and murdering a Whitehall woman in 1979.

He used a glass bottle as a murder weapon. After subtracting nearly 17 years for good behavior, Stevens is now overdue for release.

On Monday County Circuit Judge Timothy G. Hicks ruled there is no legal basis to keep the killer in custody, and unless overruled by a state appeals court, he is ordering Stevens release Wednesday afternoon.

"He served the absolute maximum the law required of him and the sentence imposed on him," says Sandra Girard, executive director of Prisoner Legal Services of Michigan Inc. "And while people may be opposed to Mr. Stevens being out he is legally entitled to be out."

But while incarcerated for over 23 years, prosecutors say Stevens briefly walked away from a minimum security facility and sexually misbehaved with female visitors on 4 occasions.

They say he is not entitled to so many years off for "good behavior".

In addition, they believe the Department of Corrections miscalculated the consecutive sentences for the murder and the escape from custody at the minimum security facility.

"He is a very dangerous man who committed a very vicious homicide that was sexually oriented and that appears to have a proclivity to continue with that type of behavior," says Gardner. "It is our belief he presents a danger not only to this community but any community."

Inmates no longer get time off for good behavior in Michigan prisons.

Stevens was sentenced before voters banned the practice.

If he goes free on Wednesday Stevens will have spent 22 extra days in prison beyond his scheduled release date.

"The principle at state here affects everything in our system," says Girard. "He has every right to be released and if his rights are disregarded it could happen to any one of us."

http://www.wzzm13.com/news/regional/...?storyid=82574


Created: 10/23/2007 3:12:40 PM
Updated: 10/23/2007 4:27:30 PM


Muskegon – The release of Wayne Lee Stevens scheduled for Wednesday afternoon has been halted. That after a court of Appeals in Grand Rapids issued a stay in his release.

Yesterday, the Muskegon County Prosecutor's office filed an appeal with the State Appeals court in Grand Rapids.

Stevens was convicted in 1979 of the murder and sexual assault of a Muskegon woman and sentenced to 40 years in jail. The state correctional system says that with good behavior, Stevens should be released. The Muskegon County Prosecutor has been fighting the release in court saying that Stevens has had numerous incidents while behind bars that should keep him in jail.

Stay with WZZM 13 News as we'll have more on this story tonight at WZZM 13 News at 6:00pm and 11:00pm and online as it happens.

For more details in the history of this mans crimes read the article thru this link http://www.mlive.com/muskegon/storie...270.xml&coll=8
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It is so scary to think this man may soon be walking free. 17 years of "good time" credits is rediculous. He was due to walk free at 1pm this afternoon, I am glad that is not happening now but scared that it may in the near future.

Why is the sentence described as "FORTY YEARS" if - in fact it is not ? This is an aspect of the "Justice" system that I have NEVER understood. 40 years = 23 years ?? A convicted pedaphile sentenced to the maximum sentence of 90 DAYS ( multiple counts involving three children over seven years ) gets out in 44 days ?? A sexual sadist gets time off for "good behavior" ? If they are in PRISON where access is limited to their VOC is limited why would the DOJ put the rest of us ( innocent potential victims all ) at risk of these predators ?