Youth sentenced as adult in Camp Friedenswald larceny

Published 10:45 pm Thursday, September 18, 2008

By By NORMA LERNER / Vigilant/Argus
CASSOPOLIS – Ransacking a girls' cabin at a campground wasn't a good thing to do, and a 17-year-old Niles youth was sorry and regrets what he did.
Jason Udell, 17, of 3363 Tiara Trail, Niles, was treated as an adult with a felony charge of larceny in a building Friday and was given a chance to make things right. If he doesn't violate the conditions of his 18-month probation term, Judge Michael Dodge said the record would be erased from his record.
Dodge imposed the sentence Friday morning in Cass County Circuit Court upon Udell and gave him a chance to complete a youthful training program during the next 18 months.
Luckily, after Udell and two others decided to ransack a girls cabin at Camp Friedenswald in Vandalia, Udell stuck around to help a camp official who was injured while trying to get a license plate number from a car driven away by Udell's two companions.
Dodge recounted it was July 25 when Udell and two companions were trespassing at Camp Friedenswald when they came across a cabin where a girls volleyball team was staying and were out swimming. The trio broke into their cabin and took a video camera, an IPOD, a cell phone, credit cards and money totaling over $1,000 worth of things. Most of the items were retrieved, Dodge said. Matthew Hickman, who was on call, was injured when he attempted to get a license plate number on the car that left. However, Dodge said Udell has no prior record and at first denied being involved but then admitted it and did right by assisting Hickman until the ambulance arrived. "It was more than a childish prank," Dodge said. "You broke into the cabin and stole items. You are in adult felony court where I send people to jail and prison. Remember that the next time. You have a lot at stake."
Udell was ordered to pay $850 in costs.
Gary Rezente, 27, of 305 Sheldon Street, Dowagiac, wasn't so lucky. He got two to three years in prison for second-habitual resisting and obstructing police on July 23 in Dowagiac. Dowagiac police were investigating a home invasion and found Rezente riding a bicycle near the scene. He ran from police and hid in a basement at Lakeside Apartments.
Chief Assistant Prosecutor Frank Machnik said Rezente has seven prior felonies and needs to be put in prison to protect society. "He should be put away as long as possible."
Defense attorney Lawrence Quigley said Rezente suffers with psychological problems and has an anti-social personality.
Dodge said he has 14 juvenile entries and 14 more entries as an adult, including seven felonies and three prison terms. "Unfortunately, time to give a second chance has passed."
His fines and costs amounted to $570.
In other sentencings Friday:
Christopher Stanback, 36, Cass County Jail, received one year jail less credit for 111 days served, for delivery of cocaine less than 50 grams, and credit for 111 days served for each possession of marijuana and fleeing police on Dec. 3, 1999, in Dowagiac. He is to pay $220 in costs.
Kim Brown, 39, 517 O'Keefe St., Cassopolis, received 180 days jail for possession of cocaine less than 25 grams and a concurrent 90 days jail for possession of marijuana on Feb. 20 on Johnson Street, Cassopolis. She is to pay $960 in fines and costs.
Jill Checkley, 33, 54610 Garrett Road, Dowagiac, received 60 days jail and 18 months probation for possession of marijuana on June 3, on East High Street, Dowagiac. Her fines and costs were $1,280.
Rosina Pokorny, 48, of 215 Chestnut, Bristol, Ind., received 210 days jail for possession of methamphetamine on July 2 on Wickett Road, Marcellus. Her fines and costs were $120.
Damien Huycke, 34, of Morrison, Ill., received 240 days jail for possession of methamphetamine on July 28 on Mason Street, Edwardsburg. His fines and costs were $120.
Eric Heiman, 19, 513 E. State St., Cassopolis, received 180 days jail and two years probation for breaking and entering an unoccupied building with intent to commit larceny on July 17 and a concurrent 90 days jail for malicious destruction of a building at the Sam Adams Middle School in Cassopolis. Heiman entered the school building and destroyed a security camera and took a color monitor and mini refrigerator. He is to pay $1,300 in fines and costs with restitution to be determined.
Travis Conner, 19, 504 E. South St., Cassopolis, received 330 days jail for resisting and obstructing police on July 22 in Cassopolis. He is to pay $120 in costs and fines.