Jury selection in the killing of a Pontiac marijuana businessman shifted into high gear this week, with one jury now seated and a second panel still being built inside Oakland County Circuit Court. Judges, prosecutors and defense lawyers spent Monday and Tuesday combing through would-be jurors in split trials for four Ohio men charged in the January 2025 slaying of cannabis grower Sam Simko, as voir dire kept everyone in their seats longer than most people spend at the DMV.
The split setup, taking place in Pontiac under Judge Martha Anderson, means one panel will hear the case against Scott Brown, William Creasy and Christopher Matacia, while a separate jury will decide the fate of Deonte Prophett, according to The Oakland Press. The outlet reported that one juror was seated Monday and that one jury had been seated as of the start of the week, with work on the second panel continuing Tuesday at the Oakland County Circuit Court. Court records state the men are accused of staging a robbery that ended with the business owner dead.
What investigators say
Investigators say 66-year-old Simko was found on Jan. 13, 2025, shot in the head inside his cannabis grow operation on the 1000 block of University Drive in Pontiac, with a bag over his head and zip ties binding him, according to ClickOnDetroit. Authorities told reporters that roughly 50 pounds of marijuana were taken from the facility and that the suspects fled to Ohio before being tracked and extradited to Michigan.
How the court is handling the trials
Prosecutors have divided the matters so each jury will hear only the opening statements, witness testimony and evidence tied to the defendants assigned to that particular panel, according to the reporting. The Oakland Press notes that Prophett is accused of firing the fatal shots and faces additional firearms-related counts on top of felony murder and armed robbery.
Judge Anderson is presiding over both cases in Oakland County Circuit Court, where voir dire continued Tuesday as lawyers questioned potential jurors about everything from pretrial publicity to their views on marijuana, guns and violent crime. Attorneys also used their challenges to quietly trim the pool into two panels they believe can fairly weigh the evidence.
Legal stakes
All four men are charged with felony murder and armed robbery, among the most serious crimes on Michigan’s books. Under Michigan law, a killing that takes place during certain felonies, including robbery, is treated as first-degree murder under section 750.316 of the state’s criminal code and can be punished by life imprisonment without eligibility for parole (Michigan Legislature). In other words, a conviction on that count alone can mean spending the rest of one’s life behind bars.
Prosecutors also allege Prophett used a firearm while committing the crime. Michigan’s felony firearm statute has been interpreted to require mandatory prison terms that run consecutively to the underlying offense, according to decisions discussing section 750.227b of the code and related case law (FindLaw). That kind of add-on can significantly increase the total time a defendant serves if found guilty.
Earlier coverage and what to watch
Hoodline previously covered the arrests and extraditions in January 2025. Today’s update follows the case into its next phase, with focus shifting from police work to courtroom strategy as jury selection dominates the docket at Oakland County Circuit Court.
Court calendars show juror screening and other pretrial issues are still in progress. How quickly either panel reaches opening statements will depend on how long it takes to finish questioning potential jurors and whether the judge needs to rule on any remaining pretrial motions before the first witness is sworn in.
