By By NORMA LERNER / Niles Daily Star
CASSOPOLIS – A Niles man convicted of torturing an animal and who violated his probation term by driving on a suspended license will spend time behind prison bars.
It was enough for Judge Michael Dodge to let him know that he meant business Friday morning in Cass County Circuit Court when he sent Joshua Hamman, 22, to prison for 23 months to four years.
"I was serious about a prison term," Dodge said when he let Hamman know it was a serious thing last Nov. 3 when he got three years probation for torturing a puppy that he kicked over the Thompson Street bridge in Howard Township.
The incident took place May 6 when the dog received a broken leg and was left there to die.
It was three days later when two brothers found the puppy under the bridge.
The sentence for torturing was one year in jail while the sentence for attempting to kill the puppy was 300 concurrent days plus the three years probation.
Dodge said Hamman pleaded Sept. 21 to the violation charges of driving twice and revoked his probation.
He said he drove to get medication and to a meeting. He ordered $920 in costs.
Four others went to prison Friday morning.
They were Benjamin Moore, Lupe Reyna II, Kyle Florian and Wayne Friske.
Moore, 31, received six to 30 years for habitual-second operating/maintaining a methamphetamine laboratory on Alane Court in Niles on July 15.
Dodge said Moore has an extensive record and is very serious for being only 31 years old.
The offense was committed while on parole from a Berrien County sentence.
Dodge said the last six of 12 years of his life was being incarcerated.
"I hope you reach your goal of being a substance abuse counselor," Dodge told Moore after he showed his teeth and said, "See, I still have pretty teeth."
Moore was in tears, though, when he said drugs haven't destroyed his life, but he could see what it's doing in the community.
He said he wanted to become a counselor to kids so they don't have to go through what he has gone through.
Moore's sentence was consecutive to the Berrien County offense. His costs were $920.
Reyna, 27, of Grand Junction, received two to five years each for conspiracy to receive and conceal stolen vehicles and two counts of receiving and concealing stolen vehicles on Oct. 27 on Jefferson Center Street in Cassopolis.
Reyna admitted stealing the vehicles to sell and make a profit. He faces similar charges in Van Buren County. His costs were $4,581.
Florian, 18, of Dewey Street, Dowagiac, received 23 months to 10 years each for committing two sexual offenses while being on probation for assault with intent to commit sexual penetration with a 15-year-old female.
Florian pleaded no contest Sept. 10. He is to pay $2,283 in costs.
Wayne Friske, 40, of M-51, Dowagiac, received two to five years in prison for third-offense operating a vehicle while intoxicated on Rudy Road, Dowagiac, on April 28.
His blood alcohol level was 0.20 percent, more than twice the legal limit. His costs were $1,070.
James Stout, 28, of Herbert Street, Niles, received one year jail and three years probation for third-offense operating a vehicle while intoxicated on April 22 and a concurrent 160 days jail for resisting a police officer on U.S. 12, Niles.
He was driving with a blood alcohol level of 0.29 percent alcohol, more than three times the legal limit of .08 percent. His costs were $2,380.
Christine Myers, 33, of W. Prairie Ronde, Dowagiac, received two years probation for possession of methamphetamine and credit for 10 days served for possession of marijuana on April 23 in Dowagiac. Her costs were $1,265.
Randy Wilson, 18, of Ponderosa Drive, Edwardsburg, received 210 days jail and two years probation for conspiracy to break and enter a vehicle to steal $1,000 to $20,000 on July 7 on Stateline Road, Edwardsburg. He got a concurrent 210 days jail for attempted use of a police scanner during a felony. His costs were $2,405.
Donald Harrison, 17, of Ponderosa Drive, Edwardsburg, received 210 days jail and two years probation for conspiracy to break and enter a vehicle to steal $1,000 to $20,000 on July 7 on Stateline Road, Edwardsburg. He received a 210 days jail for attempted use of a police scanner during a felony. His costs were $1,925.
Katrina Wilson, 28, of Edwardsburg, received 120 days jail for each possession of methamphetamine and possession of marijuana plus 18 months probation on July 23 on Cedar Street, Edwardsburg. Her costs were $1,140.