Guilty Plea In Cass County Murder

carlton
carlton

A suspect has pleaded guilty to second degree murder in the shooting death of a Dowagiac man back in January. The Cass County Prosecutor’s Office says Justin Carlton entered the plea on Monday in the death of Michael Collins on January 17. Carlton acknowledged going armed with a gun to the Louise Avenue home of Collins with co-defendant Jay Penar. He indicated he and Penar entered the home with masks on and that he shot Collins when Collins resisted. The home was then robbed by the defendants, who unloaded the stolen items at a drug house in Kalamazoo. As part of Carlton’s plea deal, all other charges were dropped. They included resisting police and possession of a weapon at the Cass County Jail. Carlton will be sentenced on December 18. Michael Collins was 40 years old at the time of his death. He is survived by two adult sons.