CASS COUNTY, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — One of two suspects will face at least 43 years in prison as of Friday, December 18, for his part in a Dowagiac murder case that occurred in January.
Previously, suspects Justin Robert-Gabriel Carlton, 41, and Jay Vincent Penar, now 39, were arrested after allegedly entering a Dowagiac home, killing the owner, 40-year-old Michael Collins, and tying up three other people as they searched for items to steal.
At that time, police said this was not a random incident and that the residence was specifically targeted by the suspects. Penar himself once lived at that home.
The three others were not injured and the suspects fled the scene. Dowagiac Police located Penar at a location north of Three Rivers and took him into custody.
Later, Justin Carlton was found hiding at a home on Henson Street in Kalamazoo Township and was arrested. Carlton admitted to being the suspect who shot Collins.
On Monday, MLive reported that Carlton had pleaded guilty in October to one count of second-degree murder, which dismissed several other counts against him. He was given credit for 325 days served, but may serve up to 70 years in prison total.
Meanwhile, Penar is scheduled to have his pretrial hearing on January 4 in Cass County.
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