A 43-year-old Saginaw man is facing charges after allegedly stabbing a 24-year-old registered sex offender in the chest outside a McDonald's in Old Town Saginaw on the evening of Oct. 30. Police recovered the knife they say was used in the attack and arrested the suspect, Rodolpho Fitchett Jr., a short distance from the restaurant.
According to MLive, Fitchett entered the McDonald's at 510 S. Michigan Ave. that evening and allegedly yelled at staff about a “pedophile” customer inside the business, according to prosecutors. A manager told police that Fitchett was causing a scene, and other customers complained about him as well. The manager ultimately asked Fitchett to leave.
Prosecutors say the stabbing that followed outside the restaurant was allegedly motivated by the victim's status as a registered sex offender. The wounded man was taken to an area hospital for treatment of a non-life-threatening chest wound, per the same account.
Booking and Bond in Saginaw County
Police booked Fitchett into the Saginaw County Jail on a charge of assault with intent to murder, per police. He was arraigned Monday before Saginaw County District Judge M. Randall Jurrens, though the formal charge at arraignment was assault with a dangerous weapon.
Jurrens freed Fitchett on a $5,000 personal recognizance bond and referred his case to the Office of Assigned Counsel so he could be appointed an attorney. The judge also referred Fitchett to Community Mental Health for an evaluation. He is due back in court for a preliminary examination on Nov. 17.
What Michigan Law Says About the Charges
Under Michigan law, assault with intent to commit murder is a felony punishable by life imprisonment or any term of years. Assault with a dangerous weapon, the charge Fitchett was arraigned on, is a lesser felony under state statute, carrying a maximum of four years in prison, a fine of up to $2,000, or both.
Victim's Prior Criminal History
The man who was stabbed is a registered sex offender who pleaded guilty in 2021 to fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct involving force or coercion, a high court misdemeanor, the report states. Prosecutors at the time dismissed two life offenses of first-degree criminal sexual conduct with a relation in exchange for his plea. He was sentenced to one year in jail, with credit for 538 days already served, and five years of probation.
Officials revoked his probation in April 2024 after he violated its terms, and he received a 986-day jail term as a result, according to the same reporting.
