Scottville man’s sentencing adjourned; attorney insists his client is not in a gang

Devehance Joqui Walker with his attorney, Douglas Stevenson.

By Allison Scarbrough. Contributing Editor.

LUDINGTON — Devehance Joqui Walker, 19, of Scottville, was scheduled for sentencing Tuesday, March 17, in 51st Circuit Court, but his attorney Douglas Stevenson made a motion to adjourn the proceeding until he can prove his client is not in a gang, which is stated in his pre-sentence report.

Walker was arrested last December by the Michigan State Police for a felony of tampering with an electronic monitoring device, or tether, and second-offense habitual offender. He is currently lodged in jail on a $25,000 cash/surety bond.

“There are no gangs in Ludington, although there are gang ‘wanna-be’s,’” Stevenson said. “Mr. Walker is not a member of any gang of any kind. I can’t move forward with this information, and I can’t refute it. I need to find an expert to refute it.”

Mason County Prosecutor Paul Spaniola asked Judge Susan Sniegowski to deny Stevenson’s motion and proceed with sentencing. Sniegowski, however, adjourned sentencing and scheduled an evidentiary hearing for April 9 at 1:30 p.m.