Violent offender jailed for domestic abuse

Published 9:30 am Tuesday, June 21, 2016

A Niles man with a long history of violent behavior will spend the next several months behind bars after he was convicted of shoving his wife’s head into a door.

Floyd William Byrd, 54, of Howard Street, was sentenced Monday in Berrien County Trial Court to 270 days in the Berrien County Jail on one count of domestic violence as a second offense and one count of attempted possession of a firearm as a felon.

Byrd

Byrd

Judge Angela Pasula said Byrd put his wife’s head into a door during an argument about another person. Byrd then threatened to kill his wife, according to the judge, who said the defendant has been arrested nine times for violent acts.

“This isn’t love, OK, this is violence,” Pasula said. “Violence is a choice and it looks like you have made that choice repeatedly over the years.”

Byrd’s attorney, Shannon Sible, said his client cares for his wife, but needs to do a better job of showing it.

Byrd said he would take full responsibility for his actions and that he and his wife have been together for 16 years.

“I will make no mistakes again,” he said.

Pasula also ordered that the handgun involved in the incident be forfeited to law enforcement authorities.

Byrd receives credit for 48 days already served.

Also Monday:

• John Allen Bradshaw, 32, of Red Bud Trail in Buchanan, was sentenced to a minimum of 14 months and a maximum of five years in the Michigan Department of Corrections on one count of carrying a concealed weapon. Pasula said Bradshaw was in possession of a firearm when he was found passed out in a vehicle that was stopped on the roadway. Bradshaw was also sentenced to two days in jail for attempted resisting and obstructing of a police officer and 93 days for operating a vehicle while intoxicated.

• Koty Curtis Casto, 18, of Marmont Street in Niles, was placed on probation for two years on one count of larceny of a firearm. Pasula said Casto, who has no prior criminal history, stole a gun from his friend’s father and then sold it for $50 in order to obtain money toward the purchase of a car.

Pasula ordered Casto to obtain his high school diploma before Aug. 13 of this year and perform 50 hours of community service as terms of his probation. Pasula also ordered Casto to serve 30 days in jail beginning June 20 of 2017. However, Pasula said the jail time could be waived if recommended by the probation department.

• Donald Leroy Stone, 53, of M-140 in Watervliet, was placed on probation for two years on one count of failing to register as a sex offender.