Battle Creek man convicted in 2019 shooting death. Co-defendant awaits trial

Greyson Steele, Battle Creek Enquirer
·2 min read
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A Battle Creek man faces up to life in prison without the possibility of parole after a jury convicted him in the 2019 murder and robbery of 27-year-old Michael Corbin.

The Calhoun County jury deliberated for one hour and 15 minutes Sept. 15 before finding Kolbie McGinn, 20, guilty of first-degree murder, armed robbery and two counts of felony firearm, according to a press release from the Calhoun County Prosecutor's Office.

First-degree murder carries a penalty of life in prison without the possibility of parole. McGinn will be sentenced Nov. 14 before Calhoun County Circuit Court Judge John Hallacy.

MORE: Two teenagers ordered to trial in 2019 shooting death of Michael Corbin

McGinn was 17 years old at the time of the offense. Under Michigan law, the court will be required to hold a hearing at the time of sentencing to determine whether life without parole is an appropriate sentence based on McGinn's age and other factors at the time of the offense.

Defendant Kolbie McGinn
Defendant Kolbie McGinn

McGinn was one of two minors charged in the homicide of Corbin. Trenten Cohoon, who was also 17 at the time of the offense, is awaiting a trial tentatively slated to begin next month.

Corbin was found shot to death in his Boulder Street home on Nov. 23, 2019, after family members couldn't reach him.

Within days, Battle Creek police arrested McGinn and Cohoon, and their case was sent to Calhoun County Circuit Court for trial in August 2021 on charges of felony murder, armed robbery and two counts of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.

Battle Creek police detectives Scott Marshall and Ben Clark interviewed the two men after their arrests and testified that both said the other man shot Corbin.

Trenten Cohoon talks with his attorney, Niels Magnusson, in court.
Trenten Cohoon talks with his attorney, Niels Magnusson, in court.

Friends and family identified a lock box, shoes and other items taken from Corbin's home and found by police at the home on Harris Street where Cohoon lived and McGinn often stayed.

Officer Andrew Olsen of the police department's crime lab testified that he found Cohoon's fingerprints on some of the stolen items discovered in his home. A gun believed to be used in the killing was located earlier this year in Kalamazoo and returned for testing.

Contact reporter Greyson Steele at gsteele@battlecreekenquirer.com. Follow him on Twitter: G_SteeleBC

This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: Battle Creek man convicted in 2019 shooting death of Michael Corbin