Men found guilty of raping woman in downtown Flint

FLINT, MI - A 22-year-old man has been found guilty in connection with a robbery and sexual assault in April 2016 in downtown Flint.

A jury found Dontez Martell Howard guilty March 17 in Genesee County Circuit Court on two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and one count of unarmed robbery stemming from an April 14, 2016, incident near the Harrison Street bridge.

Howard and Scott Devontae-Marquez Gill, Both of Flint, received a phone number from a woman and then later that day called her to schedule a meet up during the early morning hours. according to case testimony.

She ran to a local bar and called 911. Flint police were able to identify and take Howard and Gill into custody with assistance from University of Michigan-Flint police and surveillance video captured in the area.

Gill previously pleaded guilty in September 2016 to one count of first-degree criminal sexual conduct in exchange for his testimony against Howard at trial, according to circuit court records.

He was originally facing two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and one count of unarmed robbery prior to the guilty plea.

Howard is scheduled to be sentenced on April 17 in Genesee County Circuit Court. Gill is scheduled for sentencing on March 27.