Said he was unaware what he did was crime

The simple act of cutting a leather strap proved costly for a Niles man.

Prentice Michael Murphy, of Niles, was required to wear an electronic monitoring device when he was placed on parole while serving a 14-month sentence for aggravated stalking.

Murphy’s defense attorney, Shannon Sible, said his 37-year-old client felt a lot of stress while staying with his family on parole.

Sible said that stress helped lead to Murphy’s decision to cut off his tether device in February and abscond from parole.

“He wasn’t equipped to deal with it,” Sible said.

On Monday, Murphy was sentenced in Berrien County Trial Court in Niles to a year in prison on the charge of tampering with an electronic device.

Murphy told Judge Dennis Wiley that he did not realize what he did was a crime.

“Common sense would dictate that you should not cut off the device,” Wiley said.

Murphy will have to serve the 12-month sentence after he finishes serving the sentence for aggravated stalking.