By NORMA LERNER
Cassopolis Vigilant

Holding a knife to a victim’s throat landed a Dowagiac man in prison Friday morning during sentence hearings in Cass County Circuit Court.

Jerome Berry Jr., 29, 108 Orchard St., is heading to prison for two to six years for assaulting his live-in girlfriend with a knife to her throat on July 28. This occurred after an argument, said Circuit Court Judge Michael Dodge, who imposed the prison term.

He recounted that Berry pulled the knife and assaulted the woman, and it was not his first assault. Dodge said he has a history of domestic violence entries. This is his third offense; his last resulting in a prison term was in 2007.

“It doesn’t help you to have assaultive conduct based on this record,” Dodge said. “You deserve a sentence with a prison term.”

Assistant Prosecutor Tiffiny Vohwinkle said two years was applicable as recommended by the probation department.

“He is violent and has a drug history,” she said.

Defense attorney James Miller said his conviction involved anger and destruction of property.

Berry apologized to the victim and asked for help.

His costs totaled $928.

In other court news:
• James Smith, 34, 12921 Dutch Settlement Rd., received a delayed sentencing up to one year in order to participate in a rehabilitation program in Muskegon. Dodge ordered the delayed sentence and warned it requires him to abide by the provisions of probation or face the consequences of a prison term.

Smith was convicted of delivery and manufacturing meth; operating and maintaining a lab near a minor; maintaining a laboratory near a specified place; and possession of meth on July 7. His guidelines call for 78 to 130 months.

• Donald King, 35, 69785 Hazel Court, Union, faces 24 to 40 months in prison if he violates his three-year probation term for operating and maintaining a meth lab and operating a lab near specified places May 27.

As part of his probation term, he must first serve 210 days jail and can alternately serve it in a treatment facility. His costs totaled $1,356.