Prisoner asks county to keep up its fight against drugs

Published 6:46 pm Saturday, July 3, 2004

By By MARCIA STEFFENS / Niles Daily Star
CASSOPOLIS -- A laundry list of offenses stemming in February, 2004, were read by Judge Michael E. Dodge in Circuit Court Friday morning during the sentencing of Andrew Francis Knutz, 26, 52251 Finch Rd., Marcellus.
Knutz asked the county to "continue your war on meth and all drugs." And to his family he added, "please don't think you did anything wrong."
He was well respected, with a $16 an hour job, until he started on drugs. Now he faces life, for at least the next 36 months, within the Michigan Department of Corrections.
On Feb. 8, 2004, at 5 a.m. Hill was found trying to take an Artic Cat from Big Bouys Toys on M-51 North in Dowagiac. He resisted and assaulted a Cass County Sheriff's officer and the owner, Kent Clerk, a former officer.
He was also found operating a methamphetamine lab in his home and also charged with possession of burglar tools, and receiving and possession of stolen property over $1,000.
His sentences to the Michigan Department of Correction, all concurrent vary from 23 months to 10 years, 16 to 24 months, to 93 days, with the longest being 36 months to 10 years. He has 145 days credit.
He will pay $400 in court assessments, $350 attorney fees, and a $60 Crime Victims fee.
In other sentencings:
Though Hill's attorney, Tat Parrish, tried to have the sentence postponed, Dodge still sentenced Hill to three years probation and 365 days in jail, with credit for 155.
The victim gently sobbed in court, as Dodge recanted Hill's DNA was found on her underwear.
Parrish asked for an appeal bond which Dodge also refused. Hill immediately signed his appeal rights, following the sentencing, before he was taken to jail.
At his morning pre-sentencing he had a blood alcohol level of .06. The former Vietnam vet said he is now sober and "getting the help he needs.
he was sentenced to 150 days in the Cass County Jail, with credit for 10 days. He is to pay $60 court assessment and $60 Crime Victims Fee.
His grandfather spoke out in court saying his grandson showed "no remorse," and this wasn't the only time he robbed from his family. It "took a year out of my retirement," he added.
Drudge's attorney, Blunier, said the young man was "easily led when not on his medication."
He was sentenced to two years probation, 120 days in jail, with credit for two days. His license was suspended for 180 days. He was also charged with possession of marijuana, for which he received 90 days, with two days credit and a $40 court assessment.
He is to pay $1,279 restitution, $450 court costs, $350 attorney fees, probation fees, a $60 court assessment and $60 Crime Victims Fee.
Officers had recognized the driver as someone they had a bench warrant on and when the vehicle stopped, Turner, a passenger, ran, needing a taser on him to make him stop.
He is to pay a $60 court assessment and $60 Crime Victims Fee.
On Dec. 20, 2003, he was stopped by the Michigan State Police for a seat belt violation. Officers found 14 individually wrapped rock of cocaine, less than 50 grams. His license was suspended for 350 days.
He is to pay $450 court costs, $350 attorney fees, $75 a month probation fees, a $60 court assessment and $60 Crime Victims Fee.
He said he was guilty of delivering $300 worth of methamphetamine to an informant, and also was in possession of marijuana, on Feb. 28 and March 5, 2003. This occurred while he was on probation in district court
He is to pay $450 court costs, $500 fine, $1,440 probation fees, a $60 court assessment and $60 Crime Victims Fee. His license was suspended for 365 days.