Court: Teen Waives Preliminary Exam in Home Break-In

The Grosse Pointe Woods man arrested for breaking into Rivard Boulevard homes earlier this month waived his preliminary exam Thursday in the court. 

Zachary J. Court, 19, is charged with first-degree home invasion, possession of methamphetamine, attempting to complete a financial transaction using a device, larceny and habitual offender.

Court was to report someone had taken his laptop and cell phone from his kitchen table. Police discovered Court walking with a backpack they later discovered was stolen from a neighboring house. Police said the backpack was loaded with the stolen goods. Police said Court was also using a stolen cell phone to try to activate a credit card he stole. He told police he planned to take the stolen goods to a drug house. 

He pleaded not guilty during his arraignment that day and waived his preliminary exam Thursday. He will make his next appearance in Wayne County Circuit Court July 28.

If convicted, Court could receive up to 20 years in prison on the home invasion count alone. The habitual offender count could add a minimum of 15 years to any sentence imposed. 

Arraignment

A Detroit man driving a car with a license plate belonging to another car made his initial appearance in the City of Grosse Pointe Court Thursday. He was arrested late Wednesday after patrol officers discovered the discrepancy with the license plate. 

They discovered he had his children, ages 3 and 5, in the car without proper car seats. He told officers he was trying get his children food and it was the only car available. He said it belonged to someone else he knows and police found stolen car stereos in the trunk and a catalytic converter on the front passenger seat. 

Detectives are investigating the stolen items and the man has been charged with driving with a suspended license, using an improper plate and improper child restraints. 

The children were picked up from the scene near Cadieux and Mack by their mother, according to a report.