A Shelby Township man accused of trying to kidnap two girls turned a routine plea hearing into courtroom theater yesterday, rejecting a deal and firing off an obscene gesture toward spectators before officers escorted him out.
The defendant, identified as Endi Bala, faces charges from two separate incidents in August 2024: an alleged attempt to abduct a 15-year-old girl in Clinton Township and an alleged grab-and-car abduction of a 7-year-old girl in Sterling Heights. When the judge asked whether he wanted to enter a plea, Bala simply answered no.
Plea Hearing In Mount Clemens
Defense attorney Sam Bennet told the court his client had agreed to the plea deal as recently as last week but changed his mind before the hearing, ClickOnDetroit reported. When the judge pressed, asking, “You don’t want to enter a plea today?” Bala again said “no.”
That is when, according to the outlet, he turned toward the gallery, made the obscene gesture in front of a packed crowd of family members and neighbors, and was promptly removed by court officers. Bala is scheduled to return to court Aug. 24, and his trial is still set for October.
Mental Health Evaluations Complicated The Case
The question of Bala’s mental state has hung over the case since charges were filed. A psychiatrist at the state Forensic Center initially found him legally insane, according to the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office.
Judge Matthew Sabaugh later ordered an independent expert evaluation, and both sides ultimately accepted a separate report this year that found Bala competent to stand trial. Victims and their families say that back-and-forth has stretched the case out far longer than they expected, according to CBS Detroit. For more background on how the court handled the earlier findings, see Hoodline coverage.
Families Say They Are Exhausted
Relatives of both girls say the delays have taken a toll. “Awful, exhausted, drained, disappointed,” said Alecia Childers, the aunt of the younger girl. Coryne Childers added, “This is two years now, and we are still going through this,” according to ClickOnDetroit.
Earlier accounts of the August 2024 incidents say a volunteer with Citizens on Patrol intervened and held the suspect until officers arrived, as reported by FOX 2 Detroit.
What Happens Next
If Bala continues to refuse the plea deal, prosecutors say the case will head to trial in the fall. The Macomb County office has also noted that a plea of Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity would trigger immediate commitment procedures and more psychiatric review, a legal path that can keep someone in the system longer than a standard prison term.
The Macomb County Prosecutor's Office has published detailed guidance explaining how that commitment and review process works.
