Legal limbo leaves Almont Twp. homicide case on hold
ALMONT — A mental health court ruling has left a St. Clair County man and two communities in legal limbo.
William Channer, 33, of Columbus Township stands accused of gunning down Logan Welch at Trims Unlimited in Almont Township on Nov. 25, 2025.
Channer was found mentally competent to stand trial in December by 71-A District Court Judge Laura Cheger Barnard, following a second competency examination by 40th Circuit Court Judge Michael J. Nolan, who found him incompetent, but treatable, in April.
He remains held at the Lapeer County Jail, waiting for one of 772 beds at the Center for Forensic Psychiatry for inpatient treatment in Saline. The one thing Lapeer County prosecutors and Channer’s attorney agree on is the center is overworked and under-funded.
The Lansing State Journal reported in 2018 that the average wait for a bed at the center was 122 days. The year before, the Detroit Legal News did a review of state budgets that showed mental health funding had been cut 76% over the past 50 years.
Things have not improved.
“Basically, the system is overloaded,” said Lapeer County Prosecutor John Miller. “It’s the black hole in the criminal justice system. It’s one of my greatest frustrations,” said Richard Schaaf. “Something is very wrong.”
The Marysville attorney noted that a defendant facing a lesser charge, such as assault, could petition to have charges dropped and be released, if the state did not provide treatment within 15 months. However, Channer is facing capital charges which means he can be held indefinitely.
Schaaf said Channer is “not alone.”
Last fall, WSBT-TV, a South Bend, Ind. TV station serving Southwest Michigan reported more than 250 Michigan defendants were in jail waiting for psychiatric care.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, which is responsible for the Center for Forensic Psychiatry, did not respond to emails from the Tri-City Times.
“There’s almost nothing we can do about it,” said Miller.
He noted that while almost everyone agrees that mental health services for defendants are underfunded, it’s unlikely anything will be done about it in an election year.
Channer is scheduled for a bond hearing Sept. 23, but Miller said it’s unlikely anything will change.
Charged with first-degree premeditated murder, carrying a concealed weapon without a permit, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, using a firearm to commit a felony and fleeing and eluding law enforcement, Channer has been held without bond since last November.
Prosecutors say Channer walked into Trim Unlimited a week after being fired and shot Welch with a .380 automatic pistol before leading police from four agencies on a high-speed chase that ended on Sutton Road with a Dryden Police Department car totaled, four other police cars damaged and Channer suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
In addition to being plant manager at Trims Unlimited Welch, a lifelong Grand Blanc resident, served as the seventh grade football coach for Grand Blanc West Middle School for four years. He left behind a wife and daughter.
