ROMEO, Mich. – Judge Denis LeDuc ordered James VanCallis to be held without bond Thursday during a preliminary hearing. VanCallis is charged in connection to the murder of 14-year-old April Millsap.
VanCallis' attorney, Dean Ankouny, asked that a bond be posted and a tether be attached to the defendant instead of jail time without bond.
"If Mr. VanCallis is found not guilty of these charges he will suffer irreputable harm at that point by being in custody for a very long period of time," said Ankouny.
But Judge LeDuc decided to hold VanCallis without bond. He noted that the allegations against the man are serious and extremely violent and mentioned a pending felony drug charge that VanCallis is also facing.
VanCallis waived his right to a preliminary hearing within 14 days, but he did not waive his right to a preliminary hearing.
A pre-exam conference was scheduled for Nov. 13 and a preliminary exam will come in mid-December.
VanCallis is accused of murdering the Armada teen in July as she walked her dog on a trail in the woods.
Macomb County Prosecutor Eric Smith said Wednesday that VanCallis is facing charges of first-degree murder, felony murder and assault with intent to commit sexual contact.
If convicted on first-degree murder charges, he could receive a life sentence without the possibility of parole.
Read: Details of April Millsap's death emerge
"As the investigation progressed and intensified, the evidence led in only one direction: James VanCallis," Smith said. "My office intends to present physical, electronic and eyewitness testimony and evidence placing VanCallis at the scene of the murder with the victim at the time of the murder."
VanCallis is currently in custody on unrelated drug charges and had been the only person of interest named by police in Millsap's slaying.