A Three Rivers man’s attempt at a daytime robbery has earned him a cell in a Michigan state prison.

Judge Michael Dodge sentenced Abraham Saffold, 48, to a minimum term of four years in prison, to a maximum term of 20, during his sentencing hearing Friday morning in Cass County court, on charges of breaking and entering, larceny and possession of burglary tools. Saffold pleaded guilty to these three charges on Jan. 27.

The charges stem from an incident that occurred during the morning hours of April 17 of last year. On that day, Saffold, along with accomplice Kenneth Scott, visited a residence located on Born Street in Jones, checking to see if the house was occupied before proceeding to break into a garage located on the property.

“The homeowner, Ruth Bodie, had heard someone ringing her doorbell several times, but she was in the shower and unable to answer,” Dodge said. “When she got dressed and looked out the window, she saw two subjects, one with a set of bolt cutters and a prybar, which had just been used to gain entry into her garage.”

Bodie contacted the authorities about the break-in, who received the call at around 10:30 a.m., Dodge said. When deputies with the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrived at the scene, they immediately apprehended Saffold, with Scott being apprehended a short time later in Three Rivers.

“It was later discovered that you had burglar tools in your vehicle, along with a ski mask, gloves and an assortment of tools,” Dodge said.

When first questioned by authorities, Saffold claimed he was innocent, saying that he and Scott were only in the county to getting some fishing poles and that another suspect was responsible for the crime, said Assistant Prosecutor Kirk Metzger.

“He knows better,” Metzger said. “He knows perfectly well what he is doing. He is too intelligent to be this naïve.”

At the time of his guilty plea in court, Saffold admitted his responsibility for the break-in, saying he had supplied his partner with the bolt-cutters used that morning.

In addition to causing $534 worth of damage to her property, the incident terrified the homeowner as she witnessed the two invaders breaking in, Metzger said.

Saffold has a past criminal record that the judge labeled as “horrendous,” with 12 prior felonies including breaking and entering, armed robbery and receiving stolen property. He had just recently been released on parole when he committed these offenses last spring.

In spite of his record, the judge did commend Saffold for his positive behavior throughout his years of incarceration, participating in ministry and drug rehabilitation programs.

“If you can behave out of jail or prison the way you do when you’re in, society would have no problem with you,” Dodge said.

Saffold was also ordered to pay restitution to the victim, in the amount of $534.