A Macomb County man accused of attempting to kidnap two young girls was going to render a plea on Monday and then flipped off the courtroom gallery before being escorted out.
Endi Bala, of Shelby Township, is charged with attempting to abduct a 15-year-old girl in Clinton Township and a 7-year-old girl in Sterling Heights, both in August 2024.
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Defense attorney Sam Bennet said his client had agreed to the deal as recently as last week, but changed his mind just before the hearing began.
“Is that a true statement, Mr. Bala?” the judge asked.
“About what?” Bala responded.
“You don’t want to enter a plea today?” the judge said.
“No,” Bala said.
“Alright, that’s your rights,’” the judge said.
A case tangled in questions of competency
The case has been complicated since the beginning.
For months, it was entangled in questions about Bala’s mental state, with prosecutors at one point weighing an insanity plea.
Earlier this year, Bala was found criminally responsible, a finding that contradicted a state psychiatrist’s report that initially determined he was legally insane.
On Monday, both sides agreed to a separate report finding Bala competent to stand trial.
Families say they are exhausted
Inside the courtroom Monday, Bala was anything but quiet, at one point attempting to speak to people in the gallery before the judge and his attorney intervened.
“No, Endi. Shut your mouth,” Bennet said.
“You are not going to communicate with anyone in the gallery, sir,” the judge said.
Families of both victims say the drawn-out process has taken a toll.
“Awful, exhausted, drained, disappointed,” said Alecia Childers, the aunt of the then 7-year-old.
“This is two years now, and we are still going through this. When is enough, enough?” said Coryne Childers, the mother of the then 7-year-old.
“Let’s just go to trial in October and be done with it because these are just games he is playing,” said Lori DeMars, grandmother of the then 15-year-old.
Bala is due back in court Aug. 24 for a pretrial hearing. If no new deal is reached, his trial is set for October.