Young victim thankful for guilty verdict
Published 2:21 am Saturday, April 28, 2007
By By MARCIA STEFFENS / Niles Daily Star
CASSOPOLIS – Her words were short but spoke volumes.
The 10-year-old victim of Criminal Sexual Conduct (CSC), which took place when she was a three-year-old, told Cass County Circuit Court Judge Michael E. Dodge she was glad the abuser would be in prison, so she wouldn't "have any more bad dreams."
Joshua WIlliams, 24, 185 W. Second St., Constantine, was babysitting for his cousin on Jan. 20, 2000, on U.S.-12 in White Pigeon.
When relatives came home, the child was found with blackened eyes, bruises, cigarette burns on her buttocks and evidence of sexual penetration.
On March 22 of this year, a jury convicted Williams of two counts of CSC first.
Chief Assistant Prosector Jason Ronning told the court Friday morning there was "a mountain of evidence," against Williams. "Some of the most terrible photographs I have ever seen," he added.
Ronning asked the court to consider going above the sentence guidelines of 135 to 225 months. "It is the worst assault I have ever seen, that didn't end in death," Ronning said.
Williams did not speak, but his attorney Victor Bland commented Williams has the support of his family and a good relationship with his own child. Bland asked the judge if he had read the letters from Williams and others.
Bland asked for a sentence at the low end, adding Williams had never been in jail before and has been a productive member of society for the past seven years.
Dodge sentenced Williams to two concurrent sentences of 14 to 30 years, with credit for 189 days served. He is to pay $750 in court costs, $60 Crime Victim fee and $60 state costs.
In other sentencings Friday:
"You have three young children – you should focus on them, instead of drinking," Fitz said.
Garcia was stopped by the Michigan State Police on March 7 for illegal tinted windows. His blood alcohol tested at .12 and .11.
He was sentenced to 120 days in the Cass County Jail, with credit for 51 days served. He was also put on probation for 18 months.
He is to pay $150 in restitution, $250 attorney fees, $500 fine, $60 Crime Victim fee, $60 state costs and $450 court costs. His license was revoked.
On Feb. 17 on U.S.-12 in Union, Duncan pulled out and hit an oncoming car. Though it was just after noon, Duncan was at a .19 blood alcohol level. A three- and a half-year-old and 18-month-old, were in the car which was hit and Duncan did not even stop, Dodge said. He claimed he wasn't drinking, but had taken pain killers.
"It's only a matter of time before something terrible happens. He doesn't need to get behind the wheel of an automobile," Cass County Prosecutor Victor Fitz said.
With five drunk driving arrests and two felonies, the judge increase the guidelines of zero to 17 months, and instead sent Duncan to prison for two to five years, with credit for 69 days served.
He is to pay $1,000 in restitution, $350 attorney fees, $500 fine, $60 Crime Victim fee, $60 state costs and $450 court costs. His license was revoked.
On May 30, back in 2005 his vehicle was found in the early morning hours at the LaPorte Co-op in Buchanan, where the theft of materials to make meth have occurred.
Since that time, McCaskill has moved from Oil City Road in Edwardsburg to Indiana and been employed and taken care of his family.
He was put on probation for two years and is to pay the following fees: $40 a month probation fees, $60 Crime Victim fee, $60 state costs and $450 court costs.
He admitted he had "a checkered past" and what he had done was "poor poison."
Though he wasn't really armed, with his hand in his pocket the clerk still feared for her life, after his threat of physical harm, Dodge told Lind.
A parole violator, and third time felon, Lind was sent to prison for 81 months to 15 years.
Lind was found quickly after the robbery, with the exact amount of money taken, Dodge said. He admitted responsibility, but it was sad that his parole would have been discharged in nine days.
Lind said he intends to make use of his time in prison to "get an education."
He was sentenced to 120 days in jail, with credit for 20 days. He will also be on probation for 18 months.
He is to pay $10 a month probation fee, $60 Crime Victim fee, $60 state costs and $450 court costs. His license was also suspended for 365 days.