Man Charged In Armada Killing Pleads In Drug Case
PORT HURON (WWJ/AP) - A man charged with killing a 14-year-old girl as she walked her dog along a trail in Armada has pleaded guilty to a separate drug charge.
James Donald VanCallis, 32, pleaded guilty to manufacturing marijuana Monday in St. Clair County court. His 66-year-old father also pleaded guilty to manufacturing marijuana. Both are due to be sentenced on Nov. 24.
Meantime, the younger VanCallis is awaiting trial in Macomb County for first-degree murder, felony murder and assault with intent to commit sexual penetration in the July death of April Millsap. Police say he hit Millsap with a motorcycle helmet and stomped on her neck.
VanCallis and his father were arrested in July as investigators searching for evidence in the Millsap case uncovered an alleged marijuana growing operation at their home in Wales Township.
Millsap was reported missing July 24 by her mother after she failed to return home from walking her dog, Penny, which she did nearly every night. Her body was found hours later in a drainage ditch along the Macomb Orchard Trail near Fulton and Depot roads in Armada. Penny alerted a couple of joggers to the girl's body.
On Aug. 19, VanCallis was named a person of interest in Millsap's death. He was officially charged on Oct. 9.
VanCallis faces life in prison if convicted as charged. Defense Attorney Dean Ankouny has told WWJ on multiple occasions that VanCallis is innocent.
"We feel that Mr. VanCallis had nothing to do with the murder of April Millsap," Ankouny said last month. "He may or may not have been in Armada on the day of the April Millsap murder, but obviously he frequents Armada, and he only lives 15-20 minutes from that location… but he's had absolutely no contact with her — never met her."
VanCallis will be back in court Nov. 13 for a pre-conference exam. Following that, a preliminary hearing is set for Dec. 15-16.
[Continuing Coverage: April Millsap Murder]
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