Unlike most of the victims who speak before Judge Michael Dodge, when Niles’ Michael Gouker addressed the Cass County courtroom Friday morning about the circumstances surrounding the invasion of his home late last summer, he spoke on behalf of the man responsible for committing the crime.

While unusual, it’s also quite understandable — as the man sitting at the defendant’s table was Gouker’s 34-year-old son, Micah.

“Micah’s more than a son to me,” the elder Gouker told the judge. “He’s also my best friend.”

While the people directly hurt by his actions may have forgiven him, the Indiana resident still has a debt to pay off to society.

Judge Dodge sentenced Gouker to serve one year in Cass County jail for two charges of second-degree home invasion and larceny of a firearm. Gouker pleaded guilty to both crimes during an earlier appearance in court, on Feb. 27.

The break-in occurred between Aug. 28 and Sept. 7, when Michael Gouker and his wife Sylvia were away from their residence while they were on vacation.

Micah took the opportunity to enter the home, stealing a sundry of different items from the house and garage, including cash, checks, rings, musical equipment, scrap metal, power tools and a .22 caliber automatic rifle, totaling about $6,700 in value. He then drove off from the property with his father’s 1986 Dodge Ram truck, which he
eventually returned.

“Most of these items were sold for cash, to purchase drugs in order to feed your addiction,” Dodge said.

According to his father, when Gouker returned to home after the theft, he cleaned up the damage he caused. He also left a note to father and stepmother indicating that he stole their property due to his ongoing drug problems, and that he wanted to be arrested for his actions.

While Assistant Prosecutor Tiffany Vohwinkle said that while her office appreciated Gouker’s cooperation with police following his arrest, they also could not look past the severity of his actions.

“Unfortunately for the defendant, he did steal a weapon,” Vohwinkle said. “While the defense may claim it’s a small weapon, a gun is a gun, and now it’s on the street.”

As indicated by the court, Gouker has been dealing with a substance abuse for more than 15 years, Dodge said. While released on bond, the Indiana man has been receiving treatment for his addiction problem.

“This addiction is trying to take me out for good, be it jail or death,” Gouker said. “This is definitely a wake-up call for me.”

Despite his efforts to get clean, Dodge felt that it was not a substantial and compelling reason to deviate from the probation department’s recommendation for a period of incarceration, he said.

“I think it’s admirable that you are getting this treatment,” Dodge said. “It remains to be seen whether it will be successful or not.”

Gouker was given one day of credit for time already served. He was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $6,781.

Also sentenced Friday:

• Mario Reyna, 29, of Dowagiac, to one year in jail for multiple charges, including domestic violence and resisting police.

• Heather Lanier Staggs, 27, of Dowagiac, to two years of probation for multiple meth-related charges.

• Christopher Lee Frazier, 32, of Coloma, to one year in jail and five years of probation for criminal sexual conduct.