Friday, November 3, 2023

PONTIAC, Mich. - On Friday, October 27, 2023, Oakland County Prosecutor KAREN D. McDONALD charged Roderick Lamar Harris Jr., a 23-year-old resident of Pontiac, with Torture Resulting in Personal Injury, Home Invasion 1st Degree, Unlawful Imprisonment, Assault with Intent to do Great Bodily Harm Less than Murder, Assault with Intent to Commit Sexual Penetration, and Felonious Assault.

Charges stem from an incident that occurred in Pontiac on October 26, 2023. It is alleged that the defendant entered the victim’s home without her permission and hid there until the victim came home. The defendant repeatedly attacked and beat the victim with a gun and attempted to sexually assault her. The defendant trapped the victim while repeatedly threatening to kill her. The victim was able to escape and get help from a neighbor. The victim suffered extensive injuries from the attack.

On November 2, 2023, the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Apprehension Team (FAT) and the detective bureau went to arrest the defendant, and the defendant refused to comply with their orders. After a standoff with law enforcement lasting approximately 3 and 1/2 hours, the defendant ultimately surrendered and was taken into custody. The defendant was arraigned on November 3, 2023, in the 50th District Court before Judge Jeremy Bowie. The Judge denied bond and the defendant remains in custody at the Oakland County Jail.

“All of us deserve to be safe in our homes. Crimes of such brutal violence inflict physical and psychological wounds on victims, and they rob all of us of our sense of security,” stated Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald. “Public safety is my top priority, and my office will prosecute those who perpetrate violent crime and seek justice for this victim, and for the entire community.”

Torture is a felony offense punishable by life imprisonment or any term of years. Home Invasion 1st Degree is a felony offense punishable by up to 20 years imprisonment and/or up to $5,000 fine. Unlawful imprisonment is a felony offense punishable by up to 15 years imprisonment and/or up to a $20,000 fine. Assault with Intent to do Great Bodily Harm less than Murder or by Strangulation is a felony punishable by 10 years imprisonment and/or up to a $5,000 fine and requires DNA to be taken upon arrest. Assault with Intent to Commit Sexual Penetration is a felony punishable by 10 years and requires mandatory AIDS/STD testing. Felonious Assault is a felony punishable by 4 years imprisonment and/or up to a $2,000 fine and requires DNA to be taken upon arrest.

A Probable Cause Conference is scheduled for November 14, 2023, at 1:30 pm before Judge Bowie in the 50th District Court.

Charges are accusations and individuals are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

###