GRAND RAPIDS TOWNSHIP, Mich. – Four of the six men allegedly involved with the Sept. 8 armed robbery and killing of Brent Luttrell, 34, were arraigned Thursday. Three of them were charged with felonies, including murder.
Zachary Bennett, 21, of Lyons, Kevin Berry, 21, of Saranac, Tyler Rohn, 25, of Ionia, and Isaac Fezzey, 21, of Ionia, were charged Thursday. Of the four, Bennett was the only person not charged with murder. However, each faces up to life in prison.
Luttrell relatives Luttrell sat in 63rd District Court close behind families of the men arraigned. At one point the families shouted at each other. When one in the Luttrell family yelled, “He killed my brother," the Judge Sara Smolenski called a deputy into the courtroom.
Bennett, who Judge Smolenski said also faces lesser charges, was charged with four felony charges, with one count each of armed robbery, first-degree home invasion and two counts of conspiracy to commit first-degree home invasion.
According to court documents, Bennett's possible sentences could be doubled because he is a habitual offender, with two felony convictions from February. The judge set Bennett’s bond at $1 million cash.
Berry was charged with five felonies, one count each, of murder, armed robbery, first-degree home invasion, unlawful imprisonment, and possession of a firearm. Berry faces a top penalty of life without parole in prison.
As the judge read Berry’s charges, he looked to the side and said, “Wow.” The judge set no bond for Berry.
Fezzey was charged with six felonies, and one count each of murder, armed robbery, first-degree home invasion, unlawful imprisonment, assault with intent to commit great bodily harm less than murder, and possession of a firearm. Fezzey faces a maximum sentence of life without parole in prison. The judge set no bond for Fezzey, to which Fezzey said, “I didn’t imagine it.”
Rohn was charged with four felonies, one count each of murder, armed robbery, first-degree home invasion, and unlawful imprisonment. Rohn also faces a maximum sentence of life in prison without parole. When Rohn asked the judge for a reason for all the charges, the judge cut him off and told him to speak with his attorney. The judge set no bond for Rohn.
According to probable cause documents, Bennett told police he gave information to the other men used during the homicide robbery. Then, Berry, Fezzey, and Rohn admitted that they planned to rob Luttrell for his money. The three also admitted that Luttrell was shot and stabbed when he tried to get away from them. Rohn also admitted to driving the getaway vehicle used in the crime.
In addition to the charges against the four men, Jaman Parish, 34, of Ionia, and Christopher Duncan, 29, of Lakeview, are expected to be arraigned on Friday, Oct. 10.
The preliminary exam for Bennett, Berry, Rohn, and Fezzey is set for Oct. 22 at 2:45 p.m.
