While the threats he made to one of his fellow students at knifepoint last year may have cost him his enrollment at Dowagiac Union School, the act will not cost the 18 year-old his freedom.

Cass County Circuit Judge Michael Dodge sentenced Jonathan Robert Secord, of Dowagiac, to serve two years of probation during his sentencing hearing Friday morning in Cass County court. Secord was sentenced on one count of carrying a concealed weapon, a charge that he pleaded guilty to last month, on Feb. 17.

The charge stems from an incident that occurred on March 6 of 2014, while the Dowagiac man was still a senior at Dowagiac Union High School. While in school that day, Secord got into an argument with another student, which escalated into a heated confrontation, Dodge said.

“You pulled out a pocket knife, which you concealed, and held it at waist level to scare or intimidate the other guy who you thought posed a threat to you,” Dodge said.

While the fight was broken up without any injury, Secord was eventually expelled from the high school as a result of his behavior, the judge said.

“You bring out a knife, that can result in some pretty bad consequences, because sometimes you think someone is going to back down but they can react in ways you can’t really anticipate or count on,” Dodge said. “It could have been worse than it turned out.”

Despite the setback, Secord still managed to receive his high school diploma that year through the district’s alternative education program. He has since secured a job working at Lyon’s Industries and plans on attending college, according to his attorney, Stephen Woods.

With no prior criminal charges on his record, Woods requested that the judge adopt the department of correction’s recommendation that his client be considered for Home Youthful Training Act status, so that the concealed weapon charge will be expunged from his record upon completion of his probation.

“Hopefully Mr. Secord can get a second chance upon successful completion of his probation term,” Woods said.

Taking into account the defendant’s behavior since the incident, the judge agreed to grant him the status, but warned Secord that the felony conviction would stand should he violate the terms of his probation.

“If you want to continue to progress the way you have thus far, this is the way to do it,” Dodge said.

Also sentenced Friday:

• Marvin Richard Akerson Jr., 49, of Marcellus, to 51 months in prison for multiple drug related charges.

• Eric Donald Richard, 49, of Dowagiac, to 90 days in fail for uttering and publishing.