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Man found competent to stand trial in break-in at Scorpions Motorcycle Club

After three tries to hold a hearing, a man charged with breaking into a motorcycle club the night it was heavily damaged by fire has been found competent to stand trial.

Attorneys stipulated to a forensic examination report finding Kinley Rae-John Kelm, 40, competent at a probable cause hearing July 11 in 52-1 District Court in Novi.

Kelm is charged with breaking and entering with intent; two counts of larceny of firearms; one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm; and felony firearm. A not guilty plea was entered for him at arraignment.

No one has been charged with setting the fire that heavily damaged the Scorpions Motorcycle Club headquarters on Milford Road, north of 10 Mile, in Lyon Township during the early hours of Sept. 22, 2017. The fire was ruled an arson following the police investigation.

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Police reported that a Bobcat belonging to a fence company working a project at the nearby War Dog Memorial was apparently stolen, driven to the motorcycle club and used to crash through the the clubhouse wall and move a large safe.

A preliminary examination has been scheduled Aug. 23 for Kelm before Judge Travis Reeds. The case has been plagued by delays so far. Once a warrant had been obtained for Kelm, there was an extended wait before he was arraigned since he had to be returned from Ohio, where he was incarcerated.

Other hearings for Kelm were delayed when he wasn't transferred back to the Oakland County Jail from the Michigan Department of Corrections. Kelm made it to court for the mostly recently adjourned hearing, but his attorney wasn't able to be present.

The current $100,000 bond on Kelm wasn't addressed; even if he was able to post bond, he has a hold from MDOC for parole violation.

During the probable cause hearing, defense attorney Robert Zivian said that Kelm asked that he be sent to the Handlon Correctional Facility in Ionia while awaiting the preliminary examination in this case, rather than staying at the county jail.

Due to past issues with getting Kelm to court, that request was opposed by the prosecution and Reeds agreed.