Reeves jailed

Published 1:07 am Tuesday, July 5, 2005

By By NORMA LERNER / Dowagiac Daily News
CASSOPOLIS - Randall Reeves, the resident of the home on property where the skeletal remains of Joshua Alton McCreary, 25, of Bloomingdale, were found in March, was sent to jail for 270 days on Friday morning during his sentencing hearing for a probation violation.
The 43-year-old Reeves, of Cranberry Lake Road in Marcellus Township, is scheduled for trial on Sept. 13 on drug charges.
Reeves was imposed the jail term by Circuit Judge Michael Dodge, who recounted that it was April 23, 2004, when Reeves was sentenced to two years of probation following a conviction for possession of methamphetamine.
Dodge said Reeves has an insignificant record with just an impaired driving conviction eight years ago.
But it was only four days after his probation term that he tested positive for methamphetamine. He did, however, complete a substance abuse program in March of this year, but police during a search warrant at his residence found marijuana, methamphetamine and weapons.
Dodge warned that those things violated his probation term and upon further investigation of his property, human body parts were found, resulting in murder charges against two other individuals.
Reeves was given credit for 58 days served and was allowed, if applicable, to work release for his part-time job as a logger.
In another drug conviction, Joseph Buelna, 34, of Elkhart, Ind. was sent to prison for second-habitual offender for maintaining a drug house Sept. 26, 2003, at Robbins Lake Road in Jones.
Prosecutor Victor Fitz said this is Buelna's 20th criminal conviction involved with drugs in asking for a prison term.
Defense lawyer James Miller said Buelna agreed his conduct has got to stop and that he needs to deal with more of a productive life.
Miller asked for sentencing according to the probation department recommendation of two to 21 months.
Buelna said he has spent most of his life doing drugs, but he now attends school classes and church.
He said spending time in prison was not what he wanted to do.
Dodge didn't buy that and sentenced him to two years to three years in prison with credit for 156 days served.
He is to pay $470 in court costs and restitution of $81.58 for court expenses.
His term is concurrent to an Elkhart County sentence.
Jeffrey Diffendal, 20, of Wilbur Road, Three Rivers, was also sent to prison for three to 15 years for second-degree home invasion and two to five years for larceny from a motor vehicle Sept. 29, 2004. Diffendal along with a companion broke into the home of Kay Davis and stole over $1,000 worth of items and a stereo from a motor home parked nearby.
Dodge said Diffendal has an extensive criminal record for being 20 years old. He also has a conviction in St Joseph County, he said, in saying he didn't see any compelling reason to deviate from his 36-to-71 month guideline. "You deserve a prison sentence with this offense," Dodge said. His terms are concurrent and concurrent with a St. Joseph County conviction, and he is to pay $980 in costs.
Also sentenced were the following.
Justin Joanis, 18, 101 East Wayne S., Dowagiac, got two years probation and 90 days jail for attempted felonious assault with a pellet gun on April 22 on North Front Street, Dowagiac. Joanis allegedly shot at a victim in a house with the pellet going through a window and missing a woman inside the house.
April Jordan, 28, 18590 Church St., Marcellus, two years probation for each possession of methamphetamine, resisting and obstructing a police officer and maintaining a drug house on Sept. 14, 2004, on Seelye Road, Marcellus. She also received 180 days jail and is to pay a probation supervision fee of $960 and $690 costs.
Brandon Ward, 19, 25130 Cherry St., Edwardsburg, received two years of probation and 143 days jail less credit for 143 days served for each of two counts of attempted uttering and publishing on June 20, 2004, on East State Street, Cassopolis. Ward stole checks from his girlfriend's father and cashed them. He is to pay $40 per month probation supervision fee, $980 costs and restitution of $234.41.