A tip about a planned meetup with a 13-year-old ended with a Redford man in handcuffs at the Warren Public Library on Wednesday, after police say a sexual encounter had been arranged over text messages. Ernest Howell, 33, was arraigned the next day on multiple felony charges: child sexually abusive activity, using a computer to commit a crime and accosting a child for immoral purposes. A judge set his bond at $150,000 and imposed tight restrictions that would kick in if Howell is released.
According to ClickOnDetroit, Warren police say they moved in on Howell on Wednesday at the library after getting word he was on his way there to meet the teen, with the rendezvous allegedly coordinated through a series of text messages. Prosecutors filed the three felony counts the following day in the 37th District Court, where court records list bond at $150,000.
Charges, Bond And Court Dates
Judge Steven Bieda handled Howell's April 2 arraignment in Warren's 37th District Court, where online court records did not list an attorney for him, as reported by The Detroit News. The prosecutor's office said the child sex abuse activity charge alone carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison.
Prosecutor's Statement And Release Conditions
Macomb County Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido described crimes involving minors as "some of the most serious abuses of power and trust" and said his office intends to pursue the case aggressively, according to FOX 2 Detroit. Prosecutors also outlined strict conditions if Howell posts bond: no contact with anyone 17 or younger, no internet access and mandatory GPS tether monitoring.
What’s Next
A probable-cause conference is set for 9:30 a.m. on April 16, when prosecutors and the defense are expected to lay out early evidence and the court will decide how the case should proceed, according to scheduling noted by The Detroit News. The 37th District Court will manage pretrial scheduling as prosecutors prepare for the next hearing.
