Brawling and death threats are among the actions that have landed a frequent Dowagiac offender back in prison.

Cass County Circuit Judge Michael Dodge sentenced 33-year-old Peter Allen Starrett to a minimum of two years to a maximum of three years in prison on Friday in Cass County Court, on two charges of resisting and assaulting a police officer.

Starrett had previously appeared in court on Nov. 24, where he pleaded no contest.

Police apprehended the Dowagiac man on Aug. 12, while responding to a call concerning a fight that had broken out on West Railroad Street involving Starrett. After resolving the situation, officers placed the man into custody due to an outstanding arrest warrant for domestic violence.

Starrett resisted the officers’ attempts to apprehend him, saying that, due to his citizenship with the Pokagon Band, officers with the tribal police should be called in to handle the situation.

“You refused to go,” Dodge said. “You wouldn’t get in the car, you wouldn’t cooperate. They had to force you into the squad car.”

The officers drove Starrett to Cass County jail, where he continued to be belligerent with law enforcement.

“You threatened to assault and shoot the officers involved,” Dodge said. “You were making some pretty violent threats to them. They don’t deserve to deal with that kind of abuse.”

According to his defense attorney, Gregory Feldman, Starrett was under the influence of alcohol and psychotropic medication at the time of the offense.

“It doesn’t excuse his behavior but it gives a reason behind it, and its something he can get help on if he stays in a local jail sentence as opposed to sending him to prison,” Feldman said.

The offense was the latest in the Starret’s growing list of criminal convictions, with 18 felonies and 16 misdemeanors on his prior record. It also wasn’t the first time he’s demonstrated this type resistance to police — he was charged on 10 prior occasions with resisting or assaulting law enforcement officials.

“You’ve demonstrated, by your past record, when you combine alcohol with whatever else you might be taking, bad things happen and you become a violent person, particularly when you’re dealing with police officers,” Dodge said.

At the time of his arrest, Starrett was serving a time on a probation sentence for assault and battery and malicious destruction of property. After being released from jail on bond in August, he was subsequently arrested again a few months later on accusations of domestic violence.

“[The officers] and society needs protection from this kind of conduct,” Dodge said.

Starrett was given credit for 31 days already served.

Also sentenced Friday:

• Jonathan Michael Costner, 36, of Elkhart, to one year of probation for possession of an analogue substance.

• Zachary Kyle Mills, 29, of Edwardsburg, to 18 months of probation for delivery/manufacture of marijuana.

• David Mikel Murray, 58, of Cassopolis, to 18 months of probation for delivery/manufacture of marijuana.