Court Roundup: Suspects in Larceny and Extortion Cases Due In Circuit Court Next Month

Bloomfield Township larceny suspect scheduled for trial

A fall trial date has been set for a Waterford man accused of stealing jewelry from a Bloomfield Township office building. Kenneth Karst appeared briefly in Oakland County Circuit Court Thursday for formal arraignment on larceny charges stemming from the June 27 incident.

Circuit Judge Michael Warren set a trial date for Sept. 19, and a final pretrial hearing on Aug. 18.  As they did in the other pending case against Karst, prosecutors indicated they would seek a sentence enhancement upon conviction since it was fourth run-in with authorities, records show.

Bloomfield Township police responded to the 1700 block of Telegraph Road for a larceny complaint at about 3 p.m. and obtained a description of the suspect and his vehicle, reports said. They traced the vehicle to Pontiac and arrested Karst at a residence without incident.

Emily Long, Karst's attorney, declined to discuss details of the case but indicated that the defense will contest the charges in court.

Karst has a separate criminal case pending on charges of malicious destruction of property, stemming from a Jan. 27 incident in Pontiac. Long also represents Karst in that case and declined comment, other than to say the case was remanded to district court for further evidentiary hearings.

Karst remains at the Oakland County Jail on $200,000 bond.

Pretrial hearing postponed for Troy teen

A Troy teenager charged as an adult with extortion remains free on bond while awaiting his next pretrial hearing in Oakland County Circuit Court.

Court records show Robert John Rink, 17, was not required to appear for a scheduled pretrial hearing before Circuit Judge Daniel O’Brien Wednesday, and that the hearing was adjourned to Aug. 8.

Rink posted $10,000 bond upon arraignment June 24 on one count of extortion, which is defined as the act or practice of taking or attempting to take money, personal property or services from others through coercion.

Bloomfield Hills Police said they arrested Rink outside a home in the 1000 block of Hammond Court shortly after 12:30 p.m. May 29. The homeowner called police after Rink allegedly knocked on the door for the second consecutive day to collect a $100 debt from the homeowner's son, a police report said. He threatened to blow up the house before leaving if she didn't pay, the report said.

Officers found Rink in a vehicle parked outside the home and arrested him upon discovering cigarettes in the vehicle because he is underage. They also found multiple containers of lighter fluid, the report said.

For questions about this report, email Art.Aisner@Patch.com.