COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – The cases filed against the suspect charged in connection with the alleged stabbing of two men on January 2 on Burlington Road just south of the Branch-Calhoun County line have been bound over to Branch County Circuit Court following a nearly four hour preliminary exam last Thursday in District Court.
31-year-old Dustin Sprague of Jackson is being held in the Branch County Jail on a $1 million bond. He is scheduled to appear for a Circuit Court arraignment on February 27.
Sprague is facing two counts of assault with intent to murder and two counts of first degree home invasion. A second home invasion case was filed by prosecutors that was separate from the stabbing incident.
The stabbing victims were 33-year-old Edward Guilford of Union City and 33-year-old Curtis White of Coldwater.
Guilford was seriously injured in the incident and is now in a wheelchair.
White was treated and released from Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo after he was stabbed.
He was among the five witnesses called to testify during last Thursday’s hearing. When questioned by District Court Judge Brent Weigle, White said he did not know why Sprague allegedly tried to kill him.
Video from surveillance cameras at the home was also presented by Prosecutor Zach Stempien.
According to Branch County court documents, White told investigators Sprague used to work for him but was fired in 2021. The suspect claimed he thought White was following him the night before the incident.
Defense attorney John Vincent claimed his client was acting in self defense.
His request to Judge Weigle to allow Sprague to post ten percent of the million dollar bond was denied. The judge called the attack “savage” in bounding the cases over to Circuit Court.
Not guilty pleas have been entered on behalf of Sprague.
Comments