COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – One of the four defendants accused by the Michigan Attorney General’s Office of being involved in a plot to kidnap, rape and kill a randomly selected child will go to trial. Two other defendants entered guilty pleas on Monday in Branch County Circuit Court while another defendant is scheduled to enter a plea July 15, 2019.
Trial dates for Matthew Toole of Battle Creek have not been scheduled yet. He and the others were charged with conspiracy to commit the crimes of kidnapping, first-degree criminal sexual conduct and murder.
David Lee Bailey of Coldwater and Talia Renee Furman of Springfield both entered guilty pleas to charges of conspiracy to commit first degree criminal sexual conduct and conspiracy to commit kidnapping. Both are scheduled to be sentenced August 26, 2019. A plea hearing in two cases that have been filed against Jayme LaPoint of Athens has been scheduled for July 15.
All four suspects were arrested in September 2018 following a Michigan State Police investigation.
Toole was given a sentence of 50 to 140 years in Calhoun County in March after he was charged with the sexual assault on a 3-month old baby and a 3-year-old girl. He entered no-contest pleas to two charges of criminal sexual conduct involving an infant girl.
Furman was also sentenced in Calhoun County to 25 to 70-years for participating in the sexual abuse of the three month old baby. She also entered a no contest plea.
