3/04/14 - The Wixom man convicted of shootings along the I-96 corridor in October of 2012 has been sentenced to a lengthy stay in prison. A guilty verdict was handed down for 44-year-old Raulie Wayne Casteel earlier this year on charges of terrorism and assault with intent to commit great bodily harm. He was sentenced to 16 to 40 years in prison for the shootings. He admitted to firing at other passengers before the trial, but opposed the original charges of terrorism and assault with intent to murder. Before his sentencing yesterday, two victims of he shootings spoke before the court. Both of them asked Casteel to seek help and try to better himself while in prison, but one asked the court to give him the maximum sentence while the other said she felt bad for and forgave him. Defense Attorney Douglas Mulkoff told the court Castel should get a sentence in the middle of the guidelines. He argued that Casteel lashed out because of mental illness, and that this differentiated him from the terrorists that were the original target of the state's anti-terrorism law. Mulkoff called that law poorly-written and vaguely-worded. However, prosecutor Greg Townsend argued that Casteel met all of the criteria of terrorism, and that it was a miracle nobody was killed as a result of his actions. Casteel chose not to speak on his own behalf. Judge David Reader said that he was sympathetic to the needs of the mentally ill, but that Casteel clearly understood the implications and consequences of using a gun on a moving vehicle. For the terrorism charge, Reader sentenced Casteel to 16 to 40 years in prison, just shy of the maximum sentence of 18 to 40 years. He will also serve two years consecutive to that sentence for the firearms charges, minus the 482 days already served. Following the sentencing, Attorney General Bill Schuette held a press conference at the nearby EMS headquarters to thank those involved for their hard work in the case. Photo Credit: Gannett News Service (TD)
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