Crime & Safety

Serial St. Clair Shores Break-In Suspect Sentenced

Kory Smith pleaded guilty to three break-ins in the Shores and will serve at least 15 months in prison.

A 40-year-old Detroit man who was the focus of an intense manhunt for a number of break-ins in St. Clair Shores was sentenced Tuesday to at least 15 months in prison by Macomb Circuit Court Judge John Foster.

Kory Kordell Smith had pleaded guilty in March to three counts of breaking and entering with the intent to rob, and one count of possession of burglary tools, for breaking into Liquor and Wine Shop, and during the first few weeks of the new year and stealing money.

Prior to sentencing, Smith was apologetic as he addressed the court and blamed part of his problem on a drug addiction.

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"I accept all responsibility for what I did ... I can use all the help I can get," said Smith, who acknowledged that he has made many mistakes in his past. "I have finally come to realize ... that time is running out."

Smith, who has been in and out of the prison system since 1996 for a number of assault and robbery charges, was sentenced by Foster to at least 15 months in prison for the St. Clair Shores charges.

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His prison term could be extended because he was on parole for prior Wayne County charges. Any prison time for the parole violation will be served first, according to Foster.

"You say you want to get (your life) straightened around ... I hope so," Foster said. "You are getting old. You don't want that to be your life story."

Prior to his arrest, Smith had been a person of interest for a number of departments. St. Clair Shores police had been looking for Smith since Feb. 15, when they released a photo and description to the media.

The Department of Corrections attempted to arrest Smith on Feb. 14, but he escaped. An officer was injured during the arrest attempt.

He turned himself in Feb. 20 to Detroit police and confessed to the crimes, police said.

Smith is also charged with in Grosse Pointe Woods and the City of Grosse Pointe.

Smith is also accused of breaking into four Grosse Pointe businesses— in the Woods, and ,  and a doctor's office near Valente's, all in the City.

Smith is facing charges for those crimes in the Frank Murphy Hall of Justice in Detroit.


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