by Jason Baird

MOUNT PLEASANT-"Probable cause exists," was the decision handed down Monday by Isabella County Trial Judge William R. Rush.

A Circuit Court trial over the New Years beating of James Ronald Williams, 21, outside of O’Kelly’s Sports Bar and Grill is scheduled for Feb. 1.

James Jerome Hunter, 19, and Raymond Demetrius Jones, 22, are being held in jail on a $1 million bond, bound over for trial. They face charges of assault with intent to commit murder, assault with intent to commit great bodily harm less than murder and armed robbery.



The two men were implicated in the assault by Hunters ex-girlfriend Marla
Hoag. Hoag and Hunter were dating at the time of the assault and
both men on trial were living with her.

“Hunter said he had to kill Williams so he couldn’t tell on him, or he would go to jail for a long time,” Hoag testified on the stand.

After being pulled outside by Hunter, Hoag was taken within ten feet of Williams’ body. She recalled seeing someone laying face down in the snow.

“They were really drunk,” Hoag said of Hunter and Jones.

After convincing Jones to leave the bar, the three of them got into Hoag’s SUV.

“He was in his own mindset almost,” said Hoag about Hunter. “He was screaming and mumbling to himself, hitting the dashboard.”

Instead of leaving, Hunter drove the vehicle over to Williams’ body.

Both men proceeded to add to the resulting trauma on Williams’ head and abdomen. Hunter took an ice scraper from the vehicle to use as a weapon.

It was later found that Williams also suffered a collapsed lung and a body temperature between 84 and 88 degrees Fahrenheit.

“Not a temperature that is survivable for a long period of time,” emergency room physician Leslie Starnes said on the stand.

On Jan. 1, Hoag realized the identity of the beaten victim. Hunter presented her with a picture of her friend Tia Williams. Asked where he got the picture, Hunter replied he got it from the guy’s wallet last night. James Williams was someone she knew.

Hoag still did not call the police.
“They told me I needed to act normal and keep it together,” she said. “They said just the three of us knew and if anyone found out, they would know where it came from.”

Later, Tia Williams entered a room at the police station where Hoag was seated. After being questioned by her friend, Hoag told her story.

Hunter and Jones are facing three felonies. The intent to commit murder and armed robbery charges are felonies and are punishable by life in prison or any number of years. The charge of intent to commit great bodily harm less than murder is also a felony, punishable by 10 years in prison or $5,000.

Hoag testified that her physician has diagnosed her with memory problems. Hoag told officers the combination of medication and alcohol “wipes out” her memory sometimes. It was also her testimony that she had not been on medication for the period of a month surrounding the incident.

Hoag said she expects to have charges brought against her. She has heard nothing about being tried for the murder of Williams. She also said she expects no leniency for her cooperation with Prosecuting Attorney Larry Burdick.

Williams was transferred to Covenant Healthcare in Saginaw on Jan. 1. After more than a week in serious, but stable condition he has been released. He is undergoing therapy at a rehabilitation center according to CM Life reporting.