After receiving a nodding acknowledgement from the judge sitting above her, April King began reading the letter she had written in jail, acknowledging the mistakes that led her to appearance in the Cassopolis courtroom that morning.

“I want to make some changes in my life, so I hope you give me another chance,” she said, reading from the piece of paper in front of her.

Before she receives that chance, though, she will first have to endure additional time inside a cell.

Cass County Circuit Judge sentenced King, 23, of Niles, to 150 days in jail during her sentencing hearing Friday, on a charge of larceny in a building, as a habitual offender. She pleaded guilty to the crime on Nov. 19.

The charge stems from an incident that occurred on Sept. 3, when King stole money and jewelry from a safe inside the home of Terry Lynn Wagner and George Payton, located on Bertrand Road. More than $8,000 dollars worth of cash and goods were reported from the residence, Dodge said.

Despite her age, King has a growing criminal record, consisting of three felonies and three misdemeanors, the judge pointed out.

“Recently, it appears you’ve been acquiring these convictions more rapidly,” Dodge said. “You were convicted of two felony offenses in Berrien County earlier in 2014. You were still on probation for them when you committed the current offense for which you’re being sentenced today.”

Following her arrest for the larceny, King was charged with another offense in Berrien County, for possession of an analogue substance. She has a charge pending in St. Joseph County, Indiana, for criminal conversation.

“Now would be an excellent time for you to make a change in your life and do what you say you want to do, to turn things around,” Dodge said. “This trend definitely needs to stop.”

King was given credit for 89 days credit for time already served.

Also sentenced Friday:

• David Arthur Lefler, 25, of Marcellus, to two years of probation for failure to comply with the sex offender registry.

• Dallas Jeffery Lutz, 21, of Decatur, to 90 days in jail for possession of cocaine.

• Arvin Christopher-Lam Joseph, 28, of Dowagiac, to 210 days in jail for resisting arrest.

• Joshua Robert Seigel, 24, of Cassopolis, to 180 days in jail and two years of probation for breaking and entering with intent, second-degree home invasion and possession of burglary tools.

• Kenneth Charles Horner III, 17, of Niles, to one year of probation for delivery of marijuana.