Felony case advances in ‘savage, inexplicable’ attack on girl

GRAND RAPIDS TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) — A man accused of breaking into a Rockford-area home at night and stabbing an 11-year-old girl will see his felony case move forward, but will not see his $2 million bond reduced.

During an appearance Wednesday in 63rd District Court, 24-year-old Ricardo Castillo waived his preliminary exam, sending the case to Kent County Circuit Court. Castillo faces numerous charges, including assault with intent to murder, a potential life offense.

Police say he entered a home on Ella Terrace Court off of Jericho Avenue NE through an unlocked door around 3 a.m. June 15. According to court records, Castillo undressed, grabbed a knife from the kitchen and attacked an 11-year-old girl.

The homeowner held him at gunpoint until police arrived.

Defense attorney Laura Joyce asked that a $2 million cash bond be reduced, noting Castillo has “zero criminal history’’ and a steady job. Kent County Senior Assistant Prosecutor Gerard Faber objected, saying Castillo poses a risk to the community.

“This was a savage, inexplicable act,’’ Faber said.

Judge Sara Smolenski opted to keep the cash bond unchanged.

“This is one of those types of cases that causes us all to drop to our knees, because it is so utterly unbelievable,’’ Smolenski said.

Castillo is accused of stabbing the 11-year-old girl — a friend of the homeowner’s daughter who was sleeping over — multiple times, later telling detectives he had planned to kill the entire family, court records show. A Kent County deputy wrote in court records that Castillo began stabbing the victim but stopped because of the girls’ screams.

The victim received multiple stab wounds to her left arm and shoulder, records show.

Castillo was working as a U.S. Marine Corps recruiter in Grand Rapids at the time of his arrest. He remains locked up in the Kent County jail.

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