By AARON MUELLER
Niles Daily Star

CASSOPOLIS – When Michael Peffley attempted to purchase a trailer packed with a snowmobile and quadrunner for $100, he knew exactly what he was doing, said Cass County Circuit Court judge Michael Dodge.

He knew it was stolen property. Unfortunately for the Niles resident, he did know that the property was also a “bait” trailer put out by Michigan State Police to catch people running chop shops. Peffley’s friend Richard Davis, who stole the trailer, was sentenced to 240 days in jail and two years of probation in April.

Peffley, 26, was handed a seven-month jail sentence with credit for one day served at his sentencing on Friday.

Prosecutor Victor Fitz pointed to the commandment “thou shall not steal” during his comments.

“And Mr. Peffley needs to understand that,” he said.

Defense attorney Paul Jancha said Peffley helps his father run his business and without his help, he could lose it. So Jancha requested a short jail sentence.

Dodge was not completely accommodating, citing Peffley’s past criminal history as reason for the seven-month sentence.