Rifle-Carrying Teen Pleads Not Guilty; Pre-Trial Set for May 15

The case against Troy 18-year-old Sean Michael Combs, the teen caught carrying a loaded rifle in downtown Birmingham last month, moves forward with a pre-trial hearing set for May 15 in 48th District Court.

A plea of not guilty was entered for Combs on charges of brandishing a firearm, disorderly conduct and obstructing an officer after .

On the night of the arrest, officers asked for Combs' identification to determine whether he was 18 and therefore old enough to carry the rifle. However, according to police reports, Combs — who was with a group of friends at the time — refused.

Police later determined the weapon, a M1-.30 caliber rifle, was loaded with one round in the chamber.

, a gift he received for his 18th birthday a month earlier.

According to Phillip Hofmeister, president of Michigan Open Carry Inc., adults are allowed to carry such rifles openly and are not required to show identification to police unless one is being detained.

Birmingham Police Cmdr. Terry Kiernan said the department is not commenting on the case pending trial except to say that on the night of the arrest, Combs looked very young.

Combs' formal arraignment, set for May 2, was waived at the request of his attorney, James Makowski. A pre-trial is set for 1:30 p.m. May 15 in front of Judge Marc Baron.