James Sinclair (Photo: Twitter)
The trial of a former Belleville businessman, facing numerous charges, opens in a Detroit court today, before judge and jury, after a lengthy delay.
In 2015, Michigan Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal by Jim Sinclair that Detroit police “stole” about $150,000 worth of his property when charges were being laid.
He has now hired a new criminal lawyer.
Sinclair’s lawyer, Elias Muawad, told our newsroom some negotiations were held in a bid to make a “guilty plea deal and restitution” but this didn’t work out before today’s trial date.
Sinclair, the former owner of the Bakelite property in Belleville, is on trial on 23 charges. Some of them have hefty maximum penalties.
He faces one charge of running a “chop shop,” involving the selling of parts of stolen cars- it carries a maximum 10 years in prison if found guilty.
He has 21 charges of receiving and concealing stolen property – they carry a five-year maximum.
Meanwhile Hastings County is awaiting the completion of the Detroit case before taking any action on nearly $700,000 worth of provincial offences fines owed here by Sinclair.
For more on Sinclair click here: http://www.quintenews.com/2015/08/jim-sinclair-case-resumes-in-detroit/94055/
