Man charged as accessory in slaying

9/1/2006

HILLSDALE The case of a Hillsdale man accused of involvement in a March homicide was sent to the Hillsdale District Court, where he faces a more serious charge.

Hillsdale Circuit Judge Michael R. Smith on Wednesday set aside the guilty plea of Michael J. Shearer, 31, who had been charged with attempted larceny by conversion.

Mr. Shearer now is charged with being an accessory after the fact for his alleged role in hiding money stolen from the slain man.

Prosecuting Attorney Neal Brady had charged Mr. Shearer after the defendant deposited $1,200 into Jonathan Boggs jail account while Boggs awaited trial for the slaying of his father, Michael Boggs, 55. Authorities became suspicious because the younger Boggs had told them he was essentially penniless.

That s when they learned Boggs stole $2,000 from his father and arranged with Mr. Shearer to make the deposit and keep track of the balance.

Investigators said Mr. Shearer knew about the murder and agreed to cooperate with Boggs, possibly even before Boggs was charged with the killing three days after it happened.

District Court Judge Donald Sanderson will hear the case when new or amended charges are filed.