Lengthy Clinton County murder case drawing to a close

ST. JOHNS - A lengthy criminal case stemming from the fatal shooting of a man near St. Johns more than three years ago is nearing an end.

A jury last week convicted Tyron Jamar Husband, 33, of Lansing, of second-degree murder and other charges stemming from the September 2013 shooting of Jauwan Gaylord Butler, 28, at a house on West Taft Road in Bingham Township. He faces up to life in prison.

Three other men have entered guilty pleas, and a fifth defendant remains at large, authorities said.

Butler, a Detroit native, had moved into the rental home less than two months before he was killed, authorities said. His three roommates and a friend who was visiting were not injured. Police said the suspects went to the house to steal drugs, money or both.

Husband was charged in May 2015 and first went to trial in April 2016. But a mistrial was declared after a witness made comments that were inadmissible, Clinton County Prosecutor Charles Sherman said.

Three other Lansing men – Joseph Lee Seay Jr., 26, Clifton Leroy Bell-Flourry, 33, and Cody Joseph Alvarez, 25 – entered into plea bargains and testified during the trial. Another witness was granted immunity from prosecution in exchange for his testimony, Sherman said.

More evidence came from two jail inmates who recorded conversations in which Husband made incriminating statements, the prosecutor said.

Husband was in custody for a weapons offense in federal court when he was charged in connection with Butler's death in 2015, authorities said. He was the gunman in the killing, Sherman said.

"I think Mr. Husband was a very dangerous person, and we're glad that's he's going to be off the streets for a long time," Sherman said.

Husband's attorney, R. Vincent Green, said an alibi witness testified that Husband wasn't present when Butler was killed. Green also said he challenged the credibility of the witnesses who received plea deals in exchange for their testimony. The co-defendants were allowed to plead guilty to conspiracy to commit armed robbery and received caps on their minimum sentences, he said.

"We argued that talking to the jailhouse guys was (Husband) huffing and puffing," Green said. "So much of this information was available on the street."

The jury deliberated for about seven hours before convicting Husband of second-degree murder, instead of first-degree felony murder, which carries mandatory life in prison without possibility of parole, he said.

"He wanted his day in court, and he got it." Green said. "At least, he has an opportunity for parole."

Husband is set for sentencing on March 20. Seay, Bell-Flourry and Alvarez are scheduled to be sentenced March 6.

Anthony Dillard, 30, of East Lansing, also is charged in connection with the incident but has not been arrested, Sherman said.

All of the suspects initially faced nine felony counts, including murder, assault with intent to murder, first-degree home invasion and conspiracy to commit armed robbery.

The Clinton County Sheriff's Office handled the investigation and was helped by police from the Lansing, Bath Township and DeWitt Township departments, as well as the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Contact Ken Palmer at (517) 377-1032 or kpalmer@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @KBPalm_lsj.