Teen waives preliminary hearing in Midland County fatal stabbing case

By Kelly Dame

The 15-year-old boy charged as an adult in connection with a fatal stabbing at a Geneva Township home over the summer has waived the preliminary hearing in his case.

Steven Jeffrey Pribbernow Jr., wearing an orange jail jumpsuit, handcuffs and shackles, signed a form waiving the hearing before Midland County District Court Judge Stephen P. Carras this afternoon. The preliminary hearing is for a judge to decide if there is probable cause to believe a crime was committed and that it was committed by the defendant.

Pribbernow faces one count of open murder and three counts of assault with the intent to commit murder. Earlier this month, he was found competent to stand trial.

The stabbing occurred on Aug. 4 at 5180 W. McNally Road. Killed was 17-year-old Justin Steven Pribbernow. Injured were Kody Christopher Pribbernow, 13 1/2; Kevin David Pribbernow, 15; and Joshua Saylor, 32.

Both open murder and assault with the intent to commit murder are punishable by up to life in prison.

Carras conducted a circuit court arraignment in the case, at which Pribbernow stood mute. The court will enter a plea of not guilty in the case, which next will be scheduled for a pretrial conference in the circuit court.