A U.S. Armed Forces veteran learned a valuable lesson after lending his vehicle to others knowing they were going to use it during the break-in of multiple Niles businesses.

“When you sleep with dogs you are going to get fleas,” said Berrien County Trial Judge Dennis Wiley, before sentencing Philip Sinclar Sherwood to 100 days in jail and two years on probation Monday in Niles.

The 23-year-old Kalamazoo man pleaded guilty earlier to one count of attempted breaking and entering with intent. The charge, and subsequent sentence, stemmed from a June 3 incident when four people broke into and stole items from the Crockers Party Store and Lucky 7 Food Mart in Niles on the same night.

Liquor, cigarettes and money were stolen.

The suspects were caught when an employee at a Niles motel found a broken cash drawer near a dumpster on the building grounds of the motel. Police searched one of the rooms at the motel and found some of the suspects and stolen items inside.

Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Mark Sanford said Sherwood was not present at either break-in. The defendant’s only role, he said, was providing the vehicle with the knowledge that it would be used in a crime.

“I can’t tell what got into you that caused you to get into this situation,” Wiley said. “It is sad that you are here today.”

Also Monday, Niles resident Olanna Johnson and her half sister China Lorenzo, of South Bend, Indiana, were sentenced for their role in stealing $75 from a relative. Johnson, 18, obtained bank account information from the relative and gave it to 20-year-old Lorenzo, who used it to illegally obtain money.

Johnson was sentenced to 90 days in jail and two years on probation, while Lorenzo received a sentence of 38 days in jail and 18 months on probation.

Also Monday:

• Claudette Kathlee Chuchinski, 41, of Berrien Center, was sentenced to 330 days in jail and five years on probation on one count of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated.

• Jose Cuevas Ibanez, 30, of Niles, was sentenced to 15 months in the Michigan Department of Corrections on one count of domestic violence as a third offense and 12 months in prison on one count of interfering with electronic communication.

• Billy Joe Burr, Jr., 33, of South Bend, was sentenced to 180 days in jail and three years on probation on one count of attempted uttering and publishing.