The Ypsilanti Courier
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Holland convicted on rape charges
By Kathleen Conat, Special Writer
PUBLISHED: May 31, 2007
In the first of seven planned trials, James Holland, 39, a Pittsfield Township resident, was convicted on four counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, armed robbery and larceny in a building.
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This case focused on the incident that happened in the Mark Jefferson Science Building on the campus of Eastern Michigan University on May 11, 2005. In that occurrence, the victim was repeatedly raped and assaulted.
"This is great news," said Ypsilanti Police chief Matt Harshberger.
"We had a strong case and solid evidence. We believed he would be convicted, based on the evidence, and I'm very happy that he has been."
Area police officials say Holland is a serial rapist. He has been linked to several other robberies, rapes and assaults in the eastern Washtenaw County area that occurred during a 10-month period beginning in March 2005 and ending when Holland was jailed in Jan. 2006. Some of those cases will be tried separately in June, July and subsequent months, according to personnel at the Washtenaw County Prosecutor's Office.
Holland confessed to this and other incidents during interrogation after he was arrested for attempted murder in another, unrelated, incident in January 2006. Assistant Prosecutor Anthony Kendrick focused on that confession, the DNA evidence and the victim's gripping testimony in his closing argument.
Holland's criminal history dates back to 1985. In 1991 he was arrested and convicted of bank robbery, which landed him in prison, for 13 years, until April 2004.
Holland's upcoming trials include:
An open murder charge for the killing of Lisa Shaw in Ypsilanti Township on May 25, 1991.
Five counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, kidnapping, first-degree home invasion and armed robbery for the rape, robbery and kidnapping of an Ypsilanti Township woman at Schooner Cove apartments on Sept. 20, 2005.
Four counts of first-degree criminal sexual assault and armed robbery for the rape and robbery of a tanning salon employee in Ypsilanti on Dec. 12, 2005.
An armed robbery charge for the robbery of Bombadill's CafÈ in downtown Ypsilanti on Dec. 24, 2005.
Charges of armed robbery, use of a firearm to commit a felony, carrying a concealed weapon and being a felon in possession of a firearm in the robbery of a 7-Eleven store in Ypsilanti Township on Dec. 24, 2005.
An assault with intent to commit murder charge in the attack on, and attempted strangulation of, an acquaintance in her Schooner Cove apartment in Ypsilanti Township on Dec. 30, 2005.
In addition, police officials say that Holland remains the suspect in a number of other rapes and assaults in the greater Ypsilanti area, including one at Cross Street Village senior living complex on March 5, 2005, as well as the vicious assault on an EMU professor's wife in her North Congress home on Nov. 7, 2005.
Kathleen Conat is a longtime Ypsilanti resident and freelance writer for The Courier. She can be reached through editor@ypsilanticourier.com.
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