By By NORMA LERNER / Niles Daily Star
CASSOPOLIS – Buying an ingredient at a feed and farm store in Cassopolis caused an Elkhart man to go to jail in connection with a meth making lab in Edwardsburg.
Ryan Williams, 23, of 52705 Winding Waters, Elkhart, Ind., was warned by Cass County Circuit Court Judge Michael Dodge Friday morning that if he gets back into business again he will go to prison.
Dodge said it was April 9 when police stopped Williams after a tip was received that he had purchased a large bag of ammonium sulfate at the Community Mills yard.
"You purchased it knowing it would be used for cooking meth," Dodge said. He told him his part of making the meth was being a runner. "It's a serious business. You jumped in with both feet." However, Dodge noted his involvement was somewhat limited in the participation of the situation. He said he had a good report from the instructor of adult education program where Williams is enrolled and that he admitted wrongfulness. Dodd said he didn't think it warranted prison even though Williams was in the prison guideline range of 15 to 25 months. He agreed that below the guideline range was appropriate as recommended by the probation department.
Cass County Prosecutor Victor Fitz said Williams was arrested for a serious activity, particularly coming here from another state in the heart of Cass County. He said he traveled from Goshen to Cassopolis and Edwardsburg where Edwardsburg police arrested him. "It's dangerous" Fitz said of his coming here which shows the community is an easy market. He said the Kalamazoo market opened up in Cass County and there was a terrible homicide a few years ago.
Defense Attorney James Miller said Williams wants an opportunity to get back with his family.
Williams apologized to law enforcement. "I learned my lesson. I was trying to get money for my family. I don't want to lose my job," he said.
In addition to 270 days jail, Williams got three years probation for maintaining a meth lab on Michigan-62, Edwardsburg. He is allowed to spend the last 90 days at the Twin County Probation Center if qualified. His costs totaled $1,270.
Other meth related sentencings are as follows:
Randall Bogart, 35, 309 S. George St., Decatur, went to prison for six to 20 years for delivery and manufacturing meth on April 9 at Vineyard Place, Dowagiac. Bogart was on parole from previous prison terms from 2002 and 2004, habitual second, in Van Buren County for meth convictions. Dodge said he could not deviate from the guidelines, but that the bottom end was acceptable of 72 to 120 months. His costs were $920.
Jared Smith, 34, of 12940 Lance Road, Three Rivers, got three to 20 years prison for possession with intent to deliver/manufacture meth on Jan. 17 on Lakeview Drive, Dowagiac. He got a concurrent term of 23 months to 10 years for operating a lab, credit for time served of 134 days for possession of pseudoephedrine more than 12 grams and 93 days jail for second-offense driving while license suspended. His costs were $747.
Steven Stoner, 45, of 10605 Cranberry Road, Marcellus, was using marijuana and drinking alcohol at nine and 10 years old, according to court records. He got one year jail for each of possession of meth and possession of cocaine less than 25 grams on April 23, 2007, on Marcellus Highway. Dodge told him he is hurting himself by putting substances in his body and that he could have serious consequences as he grows older before imposing his jail time less credit for 116 days served. Stoner apologized to God and to his family. His cost was $60.
Sharon Collins, 50, of 521 Main St., Dowagiac, received 42 months to 20 years prison for delivery of cocaine less than 50 grams on Oct. 15 and concurrent 42 months to 15 years for maintaining a drug house, habitual fourth, and concurrent 24 months to 15 years for possessing cocaine less than 25 grams on Jan. 16 in Dowagiac. She was given credit for 135 days served and received costs of $805.
Kimberly Dutton, 42, of 3063 Pine Lake St., Niles, received 18 months probation for possession with intent to deliver marijuana and maintaining a drug house on Feb. 28 in Niles. Her costs were $975 plus a $180 probation fee.
Vicki Lary, 43, of 2814 Detroit Road, Niles, looked enough like her sister to use her name, Brenda Lary, to get prescription drugs from Dr. Chang's office in Dowagiac. She received 210 days jail for attempted obtaining controlled substances by fraud on Nov. 26. She is to pay $120.