Man who participated in Grand Rapids riot apologizes, gets probation
Xavier Pinkley is one of 22 people charged in the late May 2020 riot that overtook downtown Grand Rapids. Author: John Hogan Updated: 8:38 PM EDT May 4, 2021
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. A convicted rioter apologized for his behavior in downtown Grand Rapids nearly a year ago, telling a judge he is ready to move on with his life.
“I just want to apologize and just let everybody know that I was sorry,’’ Xavier Pinkley said during a sentencing hearing on Tuesday. “I was going through a lot of things.’’
Pinkley, 25, was charged with riot and attempted malicious destruction of a building, specifically, the Michigan Secretary of State office at Division Avenue and Fulton Street.
Accused rioters have their day in court; only two of 22 cases have been resolved
Twenty-two people have been charged with riot and related offenses for damage in downtown Grand Rapids May 30-31; only two of the defendants have been sentenced. Author: John Hogan Updated: 7:04 PM EST March 9, 2021
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. In the more than nine months since rioting heavily damaged businesses and public buildings in downtown Grand Rapids, felony cases against the accused participants are slowly working their way through court.
Two of the defendants had hearings on Tuesday.
Three others recently pleaded guilty and await sentencing, while two others have already been sentenced.
2 people enter pleas for roles in Grand Rapids riot
Updated Feb 23, 2021;
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GRAND RAPIDS, MI Two people charged in the late-May riot in Grand Rapids have entered into plead deals.
Byron Castaneda-Divas, 21, pleaded guilty to a riot charge Monday, Feb. 22 and Xavier Pinkley, 25, to the same charge on Tuesday, Feb. 23.
Castaneda-Divas admitted that he was with others when someone broke a window at F. David Barney Clothiers, 125 Ottawa Ave. NW and he reached in and took one or more items.
Castaneda-Divas also pleaded no contest to aggravated assault in an unrelated matter in which police say he inappropriately touched a woman who was trying to help him. According to testimony during his plea, Castaneda-Divas was on the floor of a hallway in a Northeast Grand Rapids apartment building and a woman, thinking he was in medical need, attempted to help him.