A Genoa Township teen charged with murder has entered a plea.
18-year-old Max Bastien pleaded guilty as charged on Thursday to second-degree murder, felony firearm and carrying a concealed weapon after authorities say he shot 18-year-old Christopher Grant Alexander in the head with a semi-automatic handgun in a dispute over a marijuana transaction in Pontiac on October 9th, 2020.
Previous testimony from two of Bastien’s acquaintances that night, one of whom was from Brighton and had driven the vehicle, indicated that the drug sale was arranged via Snapchat and that after Alexander and another Pontiac man took the drugs and got out of the vehicle, Bastien also got out, telling the teens to stop or he would shoot. They then heard a loud “pop” at which point Bastien got back in the car.
The weapon and less than an ounce of marijuana were later recovered by police.
Bastien had originally been set to stand trial in January, which was then adjourned several times for various defense motions, most recently on November 2nd when a hearing was held to determine if statements Bastien made following his arrest could be used in court. Oakland County Circuit Judge Cheryl Matthews ruled against the defense and said they could be used at his trial. Bastien then entered a plea.
He remains jailed without bond and faces up to life in prison when he is sentenced December 20.
