A 70-year-old man is facing a slate of criminal charges after prosecutors say he hurled a 5-gallon pail of feces at the front doors of the Saginaw County Courthouse last Monday, briefly shutting the building down while crews cleaned up the mess. Authorities say the act was intentional and came with threats directed at the courthouse. The suspect was arrested days later on an outstanding warrant and now faces multiple felony counts that could add up to years in prison.
Prosecutors identified the suspect as Robert J. Brewer Jr. of Burt, Michigan, and say surveillance video shows him walking up to the courthouse with a pail before dumping human waste and other hazardous material at the entrance. Court filings reviewed by reporters state that Brewer allegedly rode a minibike nearly 30 miles to reach the courthouse and later told relatives he had gotten his “revenge.” A private cleaning crew was brought in to remove the material, and the courthouse reopened the next day, according to MLive.
Felony Charges and Seized Weapons
Court records show Brewer is charged with unlawful possession or use of harmful devices, attempted malicious destruction of a building, possession of firearms and ammunition as a prohibited person, possession of a taser, and two counts of felony firearm. Detectives obtained a search warrant for Brewer’s home and say they recovered two shotguns and ammunition that he was barred from possessing because of prior convictions, as reported by WNEM.
Bond, Maximum Penalties, and Court Dates
Prosecutors asked a judge to set Brewer’s bond at $500,000, and the judge agreed to that amount when Brewer was arraigned today. Prosecutors say the most serious count carries a possible sentence of up to 15 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. A preliminary examination is scheduled for March 9, according to MLive.
Jail Status and What Comes Next
Brewer remains held at the Saginaw County Jail on the outstanding warrant, and court records list a pre-exam conference for March 3. Prosecutors told the court that the case is serious in light of Brewer’s prior record and the weapons-related allegations. Each felony count carries its own potential penalty, and those sentences can be combined if he is convicted on multiple charges, according to WNEM.
