By By NORMA LERNER / Dowagiac Daily News
CASSOPOLIS - A 23-year-old Three Rivers woman, who used her grandparents' house to cook methamphetamine while they were in Florida, was sent to prison for seven drug counts on Friday in Cass County Circuit Court.
Five of the counts included her involvement with methamphetamine in the Jones and Cassopolis area.
Michelle Haley of 717 12th Street received two to 20 years for each of maintaining and manufacturing methamphetamine and a two-to-10-year term for possession of methamphetamine on Feb. 9 on Woodlake Road in Jones.
Haley, who sniffled and said she had a drug problem and wants no part of it anymore, told the court she was sorry and knows what she did was wrong. "Drugs got me," she cried as she said she has been with her boyfriend, Casey Bainbridge, for seven years.
Haley also received a concurrent one-year jail term each for conspiracy to possess methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine and possession of cocaine less than 25 grams and credit for time served of 53 days for possession of marijuana on May 24 on Williamsville Street in Cassopolis.
Prosecutor Victor Fitz said in asking for a prison terms for Haley that she made "terrible decisions in her life." He said her drug life took away her teen years and her early 20s. Her involvement with methamphetamine and her relationship with Bainbridge included guns and drugs. "This is a message when you involve yourself (with drugs), there are harsh and difficult consequences in the community. We know meth will eventually kill you if you stay on it long enough," he said.
Defense lawyer James Miller said Haley is emotionally distraught over the fact that she put herself in this situation. She is in counseling, he said.
Judge Michael Dodge said the Cass County Sheriff's deputies stopped her van and found Haley in possession of drugs. She was responsible for maintaining a methamphetamine laboratory when she and her boyfriend cooked it at her grandparents house. He said she has no prior record but committed the May 24 offenses while released on bond for the Feb. 9 drug charges. She was imposed costs of $2,125.
In another drug-related prison term, Curtis Webb of 267 East Reed Street, Marcellus, received five to 20 years for each of possession of heroine with intent to deliver less than 50 grams on Feb. 4 on Miller Road in Marcellus and on Red Run Road, also in Marcellus. He also got a concurrent five to 10 year term for second-degree fleeing police on Feb. 3 on Maple Street in Marcellus and 93 days credit for time served for driving while license suspended, also on Feb. 3. Dodge recounted that Webb delivered some heroine to a friend that resulted in an overdose who nearly killed himself. He said Webb dumped his friend in a snow bank and was able to survive. The next day Cass County Sheriff's officers pulled Webb's car over when he fled police. The police officer ended up hitting a tree and was injured in the crash. He is to pay restitution of $7,017.61 for the injured police officer and another restitution of $1,585 plus $1,160 in costs.
Also sent to prison for 57 months to 20 years each on convictions of safe breaking, breaking and entering an unoccupied building, possession of burglar tools, receiving and concealing stolen property was Thomas Papke, 25, whose address was listed as the county jail. Papke broke into the Swiss Valley Ski Lodge on Mann Road in Jones on March 15 with a co-defendant and pried open the safe with a crow bar and a screw driver. They took $4,000 in cash and more than $1,000 in checks. State police stopped the pair on U.S. 12 for not having a license-plate light when they discovered the stolen evidence in the vehicle.
Owner of the facility, James Wiseman, told the court it was an impact on his business. It was a big disturbance with damage done and lots of work involved in re-issuing checks. He said there were lots of stuff destroyed, and he still has not recovered all of it.
Prosecutor Victor Fitz said the damage continues for week, months and even years for a crime. Drugs were an aspect. Papke made terrible choices, he said in asking for the prison term recommended by the probation department.
Judge Michael Dodge asked Papke how he would like it if he owned a business and someone would come in and tear up the place before he imposed sentencing.
He was ordered to pay $1,040 in costs and $1,000 in restitution.
In a fourth prison term, Katarri Edwards, 27, of 202 Cherry Street, Dowagiac, received five to 10 years for assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder when he stabbed a victim on Nov. 20 at 210 Grand Boulevard, Dowagiac, over an apparent unpaid football gambling debt.
Dodge said the injury was life threatening as the victim was hospitalized in Dowagiac and then air lifted to a Kalamazoo hospital. There were $15,000 in medical bills. It was serious, and the victim could have died, he said. "It it would have been a gun instead of a knife, it could have been a murder charge," he said. Dodge also imposed a concurrent 18-month-to-three-year-prison term for resisting and obstructing police while they were arresting him at the Taco Bell in Dowagiac for an outstanding warrant on Feb. 19.
Edwards is to pay $240 in costs and restitution of $15,226.
The third of four masked bandits who broke into two homes, one on Penn Road in Cassopolis and one on Lakeview Drive at Donnell Lake, Vandalia, was sentenced Friday morning in Cass County Circuit Court.
Joshua Davis, 19, convicted of attempted first-degree home invasion, went to jail for one year and received two years probation for his part of a crime spree that took place on January 24 with three other co-defendants.
Davis of 4205 St. Andrews Street, Mishawaka, invaded the home of Thomas Friend on Penn Road with co-defendants, Simon Ballard, Willie Moore and Nathan Deans with the intent of robbing Friend. They all wore masks with two of them carrying guns. Simon Ballard, who received a prison term on July 8, was carrying a handgun, and Davis was carrying a sawed-off shotgun. According to court records, Davis pointed the sawed-off shotgun at Friend who struggled and ran off. As he ran down the driveway, Ballard began shooting at him but did not hit him. Moore received a jail term and probation last week
Judge Michael Dodge told Davis that the court viewed his roll in the offense more serious than Nathan Deans who remained outside as a lookout and has yet to appear in court. He said Moore did go inside but had no weapon. He said Davis did not discharge the firearm directly at the victim as Ballard did. But the sawed-off shotgun discharged into the ceiling of Friend's home.
Defense Attorney Mitch Moldovan said Davis obtained his general education degree and is a pleasant young adult who made a mistake. He said he has strong family support and did cooperate and was truthful. He said he believes Davis will not be in court again. He plans to attend college, he said, in asking for only probation.
Prosecutor Victor Fitz argued that there were multi shots fired and said the defendant was involved in a serious enterprise. The victim indicated he is missing a 16-gauge shotgun that was expensive, and another shotgun plus over $200 in cash taken, he said.
Davis is to pay $1,530 in costs and a share of $808 in restitution.
In other
sentencings:
Steven Duke, 18, of 19606 Grange Street, Cassopolis, received one year in jail each for two counts of attempted third-degree criminal sexual conduct against a then 12-year-old when he was 17 who became pregnant at 13 years old for a July 4, 2004, offense. Concurrent terms, he is to pay $120 in court costs.
Leetarrus Edwards, 24, of 202 Cherry Street, Dowagiac, received concurrent 180 days in jail for each of resisting and obstructing a police officer and possession of marijuana on Feb. 19 on Warren Drive, Dowagiac. He is to pay $180 in costs and a $150 lab fee.