By JESSICA SIEFF
Niles Daily Star

A Buchanan man who broke into the home of an elderly couple who had been receiving care in a nursing home at the time was sentenced Monday at the Fifth District Court in Niles.

Michael Osban, 18, stood before Berrien County Judge Scott Schofield Monday morning to be sentenced for charges including attempted breaking and entering with the intent to commit larceny and a weapons felony firearms charge.

Osban’s charges date back to March 27; property stolen and recovered included a bow and arrow and a shotgun.

Damages sustained and restitution ordered was estimated at about $3,670. Schofield ordered restitution be paid in the amount of no more than $4,000.

“I wish I hadn’t done it,” Osban said. “It was a dumb mistake.”

Schofield addressed the defendant with strong words.

“I think it’s a pretty safe bet that everyone who has stood where you are standing pretty much wishes they weren’t standing there,” Schofield said. “But you are … and life has no do-overs.

“You took advantage of an elderly couple while they were in a nursing home,” the judge continued. “The first thing you do is admit what you’ve done … Then you accept and work your way through the consequences of what you did.”

Schofield sentenced Osban to two years probation and ordered he have “no contact whatsoever” with his co-defendant in the case, a minor who Osban said was his cousin.

He will also be responsible to pay the court $1,790 in fees and serve 100 hours of community service.