Lenawee County judge adjourns case involving Clinton man’s charge of plotting a murder

By CRISTINA TRAPANI-SCOTT

CLINTON — Attorneys for Brad Rounds, 47, of Clinton asked Judge James Sheridan in Lenawee County’s District Court 2A Monday for a 30 day adjournment on his preliminary exam in order to wait on a review of medical records.

Rounds was arrested Wednesday, Feb. 20, for allegedly planning a murder-for-hire scheme. He was arraigned in Lenawee County District Court the following Thursday and charged with murder solicitation. Bond was set at $500,000. Rounds posted bond and was out of jail Tuesday, Feb. 26, according to court records.

His preliminary exam was scheduled for Monday in front of Sheridan. Detective Sgt. John Figurski of the Michigan State Police in Adrian, who has been investigating the case since the Clinton Police Department turned it over to the State Police in early February, took the stand to testify when Rounds’ legal team asked the judge for the adjournment. The county prosecutor agreed with the terms but requested a status conference. Sheridan set Thursday, April 3, 1:30 p.m. as the date and time for the status conference. He also added a bond stipulation stating that Rounds is not to have contact of any kind with the individuals involved in the case. “This is enforced extremely vigorously in this county,” Sheridan told Rounds.

The Clinton Police Department learned of Rounds’ alleged plan through a confidential witness. Clinton Police Chief Michael Randolph said in earlier reports that the department investigated the alleged scheme and called in Figurski to assist on the matter. Figurski was assisted by State Police in Richmond and Cheboygan as well as by members of COMET, OMNI, the First District Fugitive Team and the Major Case Team.

According to a report by WATZ AM 1450 news radio station in Alpena, the alleged motive is a dispute over an estate belonging to Rounds’ deceased mother who befriended an Indian River couple. The couple is said to have been the target of Rounds’ murder-for-hire plot.