A motion hearing in the case of Dylan Lee Jones, accused of a fatal August hit-and-run, was delayed until Jan. 27 after Circuit Court Judge Sara Lisznyai rescheduled the hearing.
Kimm Burger, defense attorney for the 24-year-old Jones, said the motion hearing was supposed to decide whether a witness would be allowed to testify in Jones’ jury trial.
“But the hearing on Monday was about whether or not Mr. Jones’ parole agent would be allowed to testify as to what Mr. Jones told her during an interview,” Burger said.
Before going to a jury trial, the court must first determine if the agent violated Jones’ constitutional rights during this interview, according to Burger.
Lisznyai adjourned the hearing after Jones’ parole agent called in sick and was unable to attend the hearing.
Court Administrator Cindy Webb said the motion hearing has been rescheduled for Jan. 27 at 11 a.m.
A preliminary hearing took place on Jan. 10 regarding Jones’ charge of reckless driving causing death and failure to stop causing death. This hearing determined that there was enough information to proceed to a jury trial. Currently, according to Webb, the case is in First Judicial Circuit Court.
“At that hearing, it was determined there was enough information to proceed to trial on the felony offenses in that file,” Burger said. “At this point, we are waiting for the court to start scheduling trials again.”
Once the motion hearing takes place, the next step in the case will be a bench or jury trial to decide Jones’ guilt or innocence, according to Burger.
Jones has three additional charges against him for which he is awaiting separate trials. Jones was charged with one count of fleeing and eluding in a stolen motor vehicle and two counts of possession of methamphetamines, according to Burger.
Lt. Jason Stiverson of the Hillsdale County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that deputies found Jones with methamphetamines at the jail, but could not provide further comment because the case is currently in the judicial process.
All charges are in similar stages of court procedure, according to Burger.
“Each file has had a preliminary exam and it was found there was enough information to proceed to trial on all charges,” Burger said.
The dates for these trials have also yet to be determined.
The Michigan State Police arrested Jones in September as the primary suspect in an Aug. 21, 2021, hit-and-run that resulted in the deaths of 56-year-old Kevin Brewer and his dog.
Both were pronounced dead at the scene, according to Michigan State Police reports.
Jones had his arraignment before Hillsdale District Court Judge Megan Stiverson on Sept. 7, 2021, where county prosecutors charged him with reckless driving causing death and failure to stop at the scene of a crime resulting in death, Burger said.
Jones and his defense team rejected the plea deal that was offered to him by the county prosecutor’s office, opting instead for a trial by jury, according to Burger.
At the time of publication, no court dates have been determined for a bench or jury trial.
