Lawyer expects Wales Twp. man will be charged in Millsap murder
The lawyer of a 32-year-old Wales Township man expects his client to be charged with the murder of an Armada teen soon.
"We do feel that since the prosecutors have named him a person of interest that murder charges will be forthcoming," said Dean Ankouny.
"But we do believe that he is wrongfully targeted, and he had nothing to do with the murder of April Millsap."
Ankouny is representing both James Donald VanCallis, 32, and his father, James Bernard VanCallis, 66. Both men were in front of St. Clair County Circuit Judge Michael West on drug charges Monday, according to court records.
In August, police named the younger VanCallis a person of interest in the investigation into 14-year-old April Millsap's July murder.
April was found dead July 24 along the Macomb Orchard Trail in Armada after she didn't return home from walking her dog.
Michigan State Police Lt. Mike Shaw has said search warrants were issued in the April Millsap murder investigation July 30 and Aug. 18.
On those same days, police were at the VanCallises' Marquette Road home.
On Monday, Shaw said the case remains under investigation. The father and son were arrested July 30 after investigators said a marijuana grow operation was discovered during a search of their Wales Township home.
The men are scheduled to appear in court Oct. 20 and go to trial on the drug charges in St. Clair County Oct. 28, according to court records.
Ankouny made an oral motion during the hearing Monday to remove the electronic tether worn by the elder VanCallis, who is out on bond on the drug charges.
Ankouny said the decision was delayed until the prosecutor returns to court.
James Bernard VanCallis is out on bond. James Donald VanCallis remains in custody on a $75,000 cash surety bond.
James Bernard VanCallis is a registered sex offender. The 66-year-old was convicted in 1995 in Macomb County Circuit Court of second-degree criminal sexual conduct involving a victim younger than 13, and fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct with a victim 13 to 16 years old, according to online records.
Contact Beth LeBlanc at (810) 989-6259 or eleblanc@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @THBethLeBlanc.