3/19/13 - A Wixom man facing life in prison after being charged in connection with two dozen shootings along the I-96 corridor last fall is heading to trial. Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette is prosecuting the case for Livingston, Shiawassee and Ingham Counties against 43-year-old Raulie Casteel. He waived his right to a preliminary exam in 53rd District Court in Howell yesterday but still faces 60 separate charges in Oakland County, where local authorities are prosecuting him. Court-ordered psychological tests in both jurisdictions have determined that Casteel is competent to stand trial but further tests are not yet complete. Casteel is being represented by two Ann Arbor attorneys, one of which is Charles Groh who spoke very briefly with reporters following the hearing to say he's still waiting on reports dealing with criminal responsibility. Groh says the case has been assigned to Livingston County Circuit Court Judge David Reader and he anticipates a pre-trial hearing in a few weeks. He added that Casteel is doing as well as expected while incarcerated and that his family visits him regularly. Casteel is married and has no criminal history, although the forensic exams that were ordered reportedly revealed that he suffers from delusional disorder. (JM)
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