Jailed Edwardsburg man extends sentence by assaulting officer
Published 6:50 pm Friday, July 15, 2011
CASSOPOLIS — Nathan Kasper just can’t seem to stay out of trouble — even in prison.
Kasper, already serving a seven-year prison sentence for unarmed robbery and larceny, had his stay extended when he was sentenced Friday in Cass County Circuit Court to seven months to three years of more time.
Kasper, 21 of Edwardsburg, pleaded guilty in June of assaulting an officer when he was incarcerated in the Cass County Jail. The offense occurred in February 2010 when a sheriff’s deputy attempted to secure Kasper in his cell and the inmate began pushing him.
Kasper had to be wrestled to the ground in order to detain him, according to Judge Michael Dodge.
“He was certainly not friendly to his host,” Prosecutor Victor Fitz said. “Mr. Kasper, at age 21, is not at a good place in his life.”
Defense attorney Greg Feldman said Kasper was suffering from “cabin fever” having been “cooped up in jail for a long time.”
“He’s gotten along with the deputy since then,” Feldman said.
For his part, Kasper apologized to the officer and tried to explain his actions.
“At the time this happened I was on a lot of different medicines. I was having a bad day,” he said.
Kasper already has 11 entries on his adult criminal record and six juvenile offenses.