Beshires sentenced to life for infant death; Mother of infant seeking to withdraw plea

By Annette Christie

Berrien County Trial Court Judge Arthur Cotter sentenced Brandon Beshires to what was expected for the crime of first-degree murder, life in prison without the possibility of parole.  The reveal of the sentence though did not come before several family members of 8-month-old Carter Donovan and Judge Cotter had an opportunity to address the man who committed that murder.

Beshires pleaded guilty on December 12 to first-degree murder in connection with the February 19, 2016 death of an infant left in his care.  The mother of the child, Autumn Atchley left her child in Beshires’ care while she went to a doctor’s appointment.     Beshires pleaded guilty against the advice of his attorney, Donald Sappanos.

Published reports state that Carter’s aunt read a prepared statement at Beshires’ sentencing noting how hard it has been for the family to heal, including her teenage son.

Carter’s father Sean reportedly reminded Beshires that they had been friends for a long time but described how he had done him wrong and his family wrong, including his son.

Judge Cotter described how in his 30 years of being in the justice system, he has never seen photos of a child’s skull so fractured as that of Carter Donovan.  He reminded Beshires’ that the photos showing what happened to Carter, were because of him and that he was the one responsible for it.

According to published reports, Beshires told the court at the December hearing that he took Carter to the Hot Spot in Coloma while he was watching him.  He took baby Carter into the restroom after he became fussy.  Beshires said that he fell while trying to calm the child.  He then told the court that he put Carter on his shoulder and then he fell backwards.  He said he freaked out and he hit the baby’s head on the floor and that the baby died.

As he was being questioned by Judge Cotter, he said that he slammed him on the floor and that he became angry when the baby would not stop crying. He told the judge according to the published records that he wanted to kill him.  When the judge asked him if he thought about it before he did it and Beshires told him yes.

Records show that under questioning by Prosecuting Attorney Jeffrey Taylor, Beshires was asked if he thought about it before he slammed the baby’s head to the floor and Beshires answered yes and also answering yes when asked if he consciously decided to kill him.

At the sentencing Beshires told the court that he was really sorry and that he has thought about this every day since it happened.  He hoped that everyone could have peace.

His attorney said that Beshires pleaded guilty to help to end the suffering to Carter’s family and that he did not want to put his family or the victim’s family through any more grief.

Mother requests plea withdrawal

While Brandon Beshires has pleaded guilty and was being sentenced to life in prison without the possibility for parole for his part in the death of Carter Donovan, the child’s mother is seeking to have her plea withdrawn.

Autumn Atchley, who left her child in the care of Beshires when he died was set to be sentenced also on January 30 but is now seeking to have her plea of no contest withdrawn for her role after the fact.

Earlier in court proceedings Atchley plead no contest to being an accessory after the fact with regard to her son’s death, however, a motion has since been filed to have that plea withdrawn.  Atchley has new legal representation.  The charge she pleads no contest to is a five-year felony.

In questioning after the death of her son, Atchley lied to police about who her baby had been with and who had access to him, and continued lying to them for several hours after the child’s death, according to court records.  During her arraignment appearance in court, she told the court that she was afraid of Beshires and that is why she lied. She said then that she had nothing to hide and that she wanted to testify against Beshires. She did not have to testify against Beshires as he pleaded guilty to the crime.

The motion for the plea withdraw request will be heard on February 6 and could be followed by Atchley’s sentencing if the plea withdraw is denied.

Coloma Police Officer being investigated

WWMT-Channel 3 reports that a Coloma Township Police Officer is being investigated for alleged theft.  The incident(s) being investigated was approximately 10 days ago and was first reported to the Berrien County Prosecutor’s Office by the township police department once there was suspicion of wrongdoing.

Michigan State Police First Lt. Detective Chuck Christensen reportedly told WWMT that the Prosecutor’s Office referred the Coloma Township Police Department to them.  They are investigating a possible break-in to the prescription pill drop off box located at Coloma Township Hall.

Once the investigation is complete, they will forward the investigation to the Prosecutor’s Office.

DONATION FOR NEW WATERVLIET COUNTY PARK… Individuals with the North Berrien Community Development Organization presented a check in the amount of $25,000 to the Berrien County Board of Commissioners to be used for the creation of the new Watervliet County Park. Ber-rien County will be developing Phase 1 along the Paw Paw River with a projected completion date in 2018. The presentation was made on Thursday, January 26 at the Berrien County Board of Commissioners meeting. Pictured (from the left): Rick Rasmussen, funds organizer; Chana Kniebes, Community Development Coordinator for North Berrien Community Development; Jon Hinkelman, Board of Commissioners Chairman and District 2 Commissioner; Jim Polashak, Mayor of Coloma City and President of North Berrien Community Development; Mamie Yarbrough, County Commissioner appointed to the Parks & Recreation Commission; Bill Chickering, County Commissioner appointed to the Parks & Recreation Commission; Dave Vollrath, District 1 County Commissioner; and Brian Bailey, Parks Director. The “Friends of Watervliet County Park” led by Rasmussen will continue to raise funds to accompany a $296,000 grant from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund Grant that Berrien County also received for the creation of the new park. Phase 1 of the park will include a parking area, a barrier free kayak launch, pedestrian bridge to an island in the Paw Paw River, hiking trails on the island, and wildlife viewing decks with fishing opportunities

Fix it or tear it down?

Hartford commissioners  move for structural analysis at 1 East Main

By Jon Bisnett

The January 23 business session of the City Commission took action in the matter of the former Huffman Building by ordering up an engineer to perform a structural analysis of the building. The approved bid of $2,200 from Wightman & Associates “…will provide the commissioners a clear course of action to either formally condemn the building and knock it down or if the property shows merit to be repaired; that buys the owner a bit more time…” said City Manager Yemi Akinwale.

Guests

Judy Loomis briefly addressed the commissioners regarding holiday decorating she had performed for the City.

Chris Cowgill spoke on behalf of Wightman & Associates in regard to the ongoing performance issues at the recently updated Waste Water Treatment Plant. Operations are still not within the intended range of specifications.

Commissioner John Burleson was quite relentless in asking repeatedly why it was not working correctly following a million dollar upgrade almost a year ago! Burleson questioned the equipment, plant operations, installation in what appeared to be a search of a scapegoat. He was promptly cautioned by fellow commissioners that it was not appropriate to call out anyone until all the data was in for Wightman to formulate a strategy to bring the UV system within spec.

Communications

The joint City/Township meeting for Annual Fire Department Budget Review is 7:00 p.m. February 22 at the fire station.

The Board of Review will be held March 22 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and March 23, 2:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

City Manager’s Report

Upon a return to workshop business City Manager Yemi Akinwale reported on the initial quotes for playground equipment for the newly acquired Ely Park Annex. Once a design is chosen a formal quote and grant application will follow.

Akinwale announced with regret that Larry Anchor has resigned his seat on the Fire Board. The city will honor his years of service with a resolution.

Old Business

In the matter of approving the cost of the $2,200 structural engineering study on 1 E. Main, the question arose as to how much the City and property would share in the bill. City Manager Akinwale made it clear that the entire bill would belong to Mr. Blaylock. The City was only paying the bill to keep the process moving and would bill the property owner. If unpaid, the charge would be added to property taxes. Although it came to light in the prior meeting’s hearing that a total lack of capital seems to be the issue preventing Blaylock from anything more than a token effort of removing the front awning when the City closed the sidewalk beneath it, the building is also uninsured but in all fairness it should be stated that all taxes are paid current.

In other old business the Commission formally accepted with regret, the resignation of long-time resident Larry Anchor as City Representative to the Hartford Joint Fire Department Board.

New Business

Approval was granted in the amount of $899 for roof repairs at the Hartford Loan Closet. Mayor Pro-tem Hall abstained. The township will also be contributing a matching amount.

Resolution 2017-001 was unanimously approved – Honoring Larry Anchor, citing over three decades of service to the Hartford Joint Fire Department, HFD Fire Board and Community Loan Closet.

The City meets next for its workshop session on Monday, February 13.

Public a “No Show” at a special Watervliet City Commission meeting just for them

By Annette Christie

Watervliet City Mayor Dave Brinker told the City Commission at their regular meeting held on Tuesday, January 24 that one of the more popular topics that he hears about during Saturday City Hall hours is about the City Manager.  He said that the public had lots of ideas about what kind of manager should be hired, whether the individual should be full-time or part-time and what the job would entail.

It was with that in mind that a special meeting was scheduled for Tuesday, January 31 at 6:00 p.m. so that the public would have the chance to share all their wit and wisdom with the City Commission as a whole in a moment carved out just for them.

If the public was begging for an opportunity to provide their insight it did not show as there was not one member of the public in attendance at the special meeting.

So with the public comments portion of the meeting being empty, Brinker moved on to the City Commission for their input. Brinker confirmed that the City has received approximately 14 applications/resumes for the position of City Manager.

With the exception of one Commissioner, the consensus was that the position needed to be filled with a full-time city manager.  Commissioner Bill Whitney commented that he did not think he had been doing this long enough to make a determination like that but did feel that the City Commission and the fully involved and dedicated staff could make it work without a city manager if more committees were added and more tasks were spread out throughout the staff.

Brinker said that when he first got involved in the City in 2007, those were similar to his thoughts in as much as he wondered what a full-time manager could possibly have to do here. “But after spending time here, I changed my thought wave,” Brinker said.

Brinker explained that he would like to see the City Commission do all the interviews in one evening and that he would like to see four individuals interviewed for the position.

The City Commission each announced their top three selections, by number not name, and the top ones will be contacted for interviews.   The interviews will be held Tuesday, February 7 at 5:00 p.m. at City Hall.

The Commission continued to discuss what type of structure they would have with the City Manager.  Commissioner Duane Cobb said he liked the model used in South Haven, where they direct the City Manager to do particular things and then follow up on it.  “It is not a good idea to have a city manager doing everything, they will do nothing well,” Cobb said.

Commissioner Deah Muth said she would like to see the Commission meet often with their City Manager and promote unity to show them working together and not apart.

Commissioner Luke Strunk added that the Commission should be having an open conversation on a regular basis on where they are, what their struggles are, where they can ask for help, etc.

Newly appointed Commissioner Larry Hehl said that from the hiring, the City Manager should have a good outline on what the expectation is, with direction on what the Commission wants them to achieve.  He would also like to see short and long term goals set, with a given time frame and at least a monthly recap.  “It’s also important to know how they are working with the staff.  We don’t want an unharmonious situation going on,” Hehl said.

The City has an ordinance which describes what city leadership may do with or without a city manager.  When the position was recently advertised, it was listed as a full-time position.

The job description states that the City Manager is the administrative officer of the City and is responsible to the City Commission for the efficient administration of all affairs of the City, including management supervision over all departments.

The City Manager has supervisory control over all departments including the police department and the department of public works as well as having the supervisory responsibility over the accounting, budgeting, personnel, purchasing, and related management functions of the City Clerk and the City Treasurer.

Union negotiations

The City Commission reviewed the union contract for its Public Works employees.  They reviewed the 17-page document, page by page, making changes that they would like to see.

Brinker will make all the changes and take them back to the union as the negotiations continue.  The City Commission will ultimately approve the contract once both parties have agreed.