Rashad Trice Trial Date Set for April 16 in Wynter Cole-Smith Case

          GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that a trial date for Rashad Maleek Trice, 26, has been set for April 16, 2024. U.S. District Judge Robert J. Jonker scheduled the trial date following today’s status conference.

          “My office is ready and fully prepared to make our case against Mr. Trice at a fair trial as we seek a measure of justice for Wynter Cole-Smith and her family,” said U.S. Attorney Totten.

          Trice has been indicted and arraigned for kidnapping two-year-old Wynter Cole-Smith, resulting in her death and kidnapping a minor. Trice was charged by criminal complaint on July 7, 2023, to secure his immediate detention, and indicted on July 26 to satisfy his constitutional right to federal indictment by a grand jury. On August 7, 2023, he pleaded not guilty to the charges against him and remains in custody.

          Trice is charged with two counts.  The first count is kidnapping resulting in death, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1201(a)(1).  If convicted, the statutory mandatory minimum sentence is life in prison. The second count is kidnapping of a minor, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1201(a)(1) and (g)(1).  If convicted, the statutory mandatory minimum sentence is 20 years in prison with a maximum possible sentence of life in prison. 

          The charges in an indictment are merely accusations, and a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.

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Trice Pleads Not Guilty During Arraignment In Wynter Cole-Smith Case

Trice was Previously Indicted for Kidnapping Resulting in Death and Kidnapping a Minor

Monday, August 7, 2023

Trice Indicted For Kidnapping Resulting In Death And Kidnapping A Minor In Wynter Cole-Smith Case

Wednesday, July 26, 2023

 U.S. Attorney Totten Announces Federal Charges In The Kidnapping Of 2-Year-Old Wynter Cole-Smith

Friday, July 7, 2023