COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – More charges have been filed against one of the suspects who authorities say stole a pair of vehicles and led police on a chase in the City of Coldwater just over a month ago.
20-year-old Lilyan Blankenship was arraigned in Branch County District Court on Wednesday on charges of assault with intent to rob while armed and larceny in a building in connection with an alleged January 3 incident with a home owner on Rose Street in Coldwater.
Bond was set at $200,000. A probable cause hearing was set for February 24 with a preliminary exam scheduled for March 3.
The alleged victim stated in court documents that Blankenship and a man identified as Jason Work tried to rob him while he was trying to sleep.
The home owner said Blankenship tried to remove his wallet from the pants he was wearing and that Work was demanding his money while he stood in the doorway armed with a knife.
A physical confrontation then took place. The home owner grabbed a lighter and held it up to Work’s face, burning his facial hair.
As the two suspects left, a television and wireless printer were taken.
Work and Blankenship were arrested by Coldwater Police five days later.
Work has been charged with two counts of driving away a motor vehicle, third degree fleeing from a police office and assaulting/resisting/obstructing a police officer.
His cases have been bound over to Branch County Circuit Court.
Blankenship is facing two counts of driving away of a motor vehicle, possession of methamphetamine, second degree retail fraud and assaulting/resisting/obstructing a police officer.
Those cases were bound over to Circuit Court on Wednesday morning. A Circuit Court arraignment was scheduled for March 7.
According to Branch County court documents, Work and Blankenship are accused of stealing vehicles on January 3 and 7 from people they knew.
Blankenship is also accused of taking $556 worth of items from a liquor store on the west side of Coldwater.
Yeah