Man gets 14 months for assaulting woman at bar in Niles

A Niles man whose idea of fun included sexually assaulting a woman during a New Year’s Eve party will spend several months in prison.

Tyrone Dion Looney, 38, was sentenced Monday in Berrien County Trial Court in Niles to 14 months in the Michigan Department Corrections on one count of criminal sexual conduct in the fourth degree — a felony carrying a two-year maximum penalty.

According to court documents, Looney put his hands down the pants of a woman at a Niles bar on South 11th Street shortly after midnight on Jan. 1. When the woman told him to stop, Looney shoved the woman into the bar and began to choke her.

A bouncer came to the woman’s aid and made Looney leave the bar.

At Monday’s sentencing hearing, Looney told Judge Dennis Wiley he was just trying to have some fun and did something really stupid.

“I really regret what I did,” Looney said.

Wiley took exception to Looney’s description of the incident.

“I’m not sure what your idea of fun is, but sexually assaulting a person… that falls outside my definition of fun,” Wiley said.

The victim told police she had gone to the bar to celebrate the holiday with her husband when she was approached by Looney — whom she did not know — near the women’s restroom.

“She (the victim) was mad and outraged that the incident occurred,” said Assistant Prosecutor Mark Sanford.

Wiley’s sentence exceeded the guidelines laid out in the presentence report, but Wiley said they did not take into account Looney’s past criminal record, which includes six previous assault charges.

Also Monday:

• Dustin John Morgan was sentenced to 150 days in jail on one count of possession of a controlled substance.

• Curtis Alan Pedzinski was sentenced to 14 months in prison on one count of unlawful use of a motor vehicle.