Drugs lead to prison for Benton Harbor man

Published 3:23 am Thursday, October 30, 2008

By By NORMA LERNER / Vigilant/Argus
CASSOPOLIS – A Benton Harbor man who dealt with drugs in Dowagiac ended up going to prison for five to 15 years Friday morning in Cass County Circuit Court.
Michael Vinson, 39, of 777 East Napier Avenue was imposed the prison term by Judge Michael Dodge who told Vinson that he could start immediately to rehabilitate himself from his drug habits as he served in the U.S. army during the Desert Storm Campaign, then started employment at the Cook Nuclear Plant, but that ended in 2002 and there hasn't been any employment since then.
"I'm not sure how your life veered off in the wrong direction," Dodge said. "You went to drug use." He said he disagreed with Frank Machnik, chief assistant prosecutor, who said with all of Vinson's drug convictions that he can't be rehabilitated.
"You can start today. Primarily you victimized yourself. You wasted a lot of time in jail," Dodge said. He noted his plea was during the beginning of a jury trial after the jury had been selected and said he accepted his plea.
Defense attorney Roosevelt Thomas said not only did Vinson serve in Desert Storm but he is married and has a son in college on a scholarship. He may have not gotten off on the right track but there is no evidence that he sold anything. "I ask the court to give him the benefit of the doubt." Vinson said he was sorry and that he disappointed his family.
Dodge recalled it was 2:30 a.m. on Nov. 30 when a Cass County sheriff's deputy ran a check on Vinson's license plate which was not valid. Police attempted to stop his vehicle, and he didn't pull over right away. He continued to drive a few blocks. The officer then observed something thrown from his vehicle. He found bags of cocaine and after a stop found a bag of marijuana in his car. Vinson had $250 in cash, another $620 in his rear pocket and another $720 in his wallet.
Dodge said his attorney indicated no selling went on, however, it was his way to make money. Your past record shows four felonies and 16 misdemeanors, Dodge said before sentencing him to five to 15 years for possession with intent to deliver cocaine; three to 15 years for possession with intent to deliver marijuana; three to 15 years for 4th degree fleeing and maintaining a drug house; five to 20 years for possession with intent to deliver cocaine; and three to 15 years for possession with intent to deliver marijuana. He was given credit for 248 days served and was ordered to pay $1,170 in fines and costs.
In other sentencings Friday:
Rachel Hinojosa, 43, Cass County Jail, was put in jail for 180 days each for welfare fraud over $500 and failure to inform welfare fraud on Oct. 31, 1997 from the Michigan Department of Human Services in Cass County.
She is to pay $180 and $3,213 restitution.
Steven Kelems, 26, 2314 Bell Road, Niles, got 366 days in jail less credit for one day served for attempt to deliver marijuana on May 6 on Bell Road.
He may be released after serving 270 days, if he pays fines and costs of $1,070.
Jearold Dayhuff, 38, 58810 Klumbis St., Dowagiac, received 120 days jail for a probation violation of possessing a firearm and a concurrent 120 days jail for attempted possession of a firearm by a felon on June 11. Costs were $120.