[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Teen charged in cop killing to move to county jail[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]By Gina Damron[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Free Press Staff Writer[/FONT]An Oak Park 45-B District Court judge today ordered the Detroit teen charged in the shooting death of Oak Park Officer Mason Samborski moved from a juvenile facility to the Oakland County Jail, saying that the teen's prior record warranted the relocation.
Jonathan Belton, 16, has been charged with first-degree murder and murder of a peace officer in Samborski's death. He'll be back in court Jan. 22 for a preliminary exam.
During Belton's pre-exam conference today, County Assistant Prosecutor Ken Frazee said Belton is believed to have been involved in gang activity and that there are pictures taken of the teen after Samborski was killed, but before Belton turned himself in to police.
Frazee wouldn't comment after the hearing. But Belton's attorney, Wright Blake, said the pictures weren't unusual, just photos of the teen with other young people.
“We don't know when they were taken,” Blake said.
Judge David Gubow ordered that the teen be moved from Oakland County Children's Village to the jail.
Police have said that early on Dec. 28, Samborski, 28, of Howell stopped the teen, who didn't have a driver's license, then took him to the Rue Versailles apartment complex with the intention of turning him over to an adult. According to court documents, Belton has a friend at the complex.
In court, during a brief recess, Belton, his head slightly bowed, looked to be pressing his hands together in prayer, reciting something silently to himself. The teen looked back often to his family.
“Be strong, be strong,” he told family, as they began to cry. He turned again, “Pray. I love you, too.”
Outside of the court, his parents, Jawana and Leonard Belton, made a statement, mentioning that they are lifelong Detroiters and members of the Church of God in Christ.
“The family is asking that there be no prejudgment in this case until all the facts are established,” Jawana Belton said. “I just want you all to know that I love my son and I believe in my son.”