By DEBRA HAIGHT

Special to the Daily Star

 

Driving drunk has landed two area residents in jail, while failing to register as a sex offender has gotten a Buchanan man in trouble.

Allen Mitchell Milligan, 44, of Barron Lake Road in Niles, pleaded guilty to third offense drunk driving and was sentenced Monday in Berrien County Trial Court to 330 days in jail and $1,733 in fines and costs. He has credit for 63 days already served and can spend the last 90 days on alcohol monitoring.

The incident occurred July 12 when Milligan was riding his moped at Fifth and Ferry Streets and was stopped by police. His blood alcohol level was tested at .13 and .12. His previous drunk driving convictions were in August 1995 and March 1997.

Defense attorney Shannon Sible said Milligan has a history of alcohol abuse and hasn’t been able to conquer his alcohol problem.

Milligan said he doesn’t like how his life has turned out but has had trouble making changes.

“I know I’ve made bad decisions and I could have hurt myself and others,” he said. “Almost my whole life has been bad decisions, I don’t like it. I wish I could do something to make it all stop.”

Berrien County Trial Judge Angela Pasula said it is up to Milligan to make changes in his life. “It’s your decision, it’s not easy but you’re the one who has to do it,” she said. “You’re a danger to yourself and everybody else. … It’s a matter of determination, self-sacrifice and commitment.”

Judge Pasula noted that Milligan has five prior felony convictions and 19 prior misdemeanor convictions. She added that he’s been in jail 13 times and to prison four times.

In another drunk driving sentencing, a Dowagiac man was sentenced to probation, jail and alcohol monitoring after driving through a farm field north of Niles.

Donald Clayton Gilmer, Jr., 36, of Michigan 51 in Dowagiac, pleaded guilty to second offense possession of marijuana and second offense drunk driving and was sentenced to three years probation, 150 days in jail and $1,951 in fines and costs. He has credit for 45 days already served.

Gilmer can spend the rest of his jail term in the Kalamazoo Probation Enhancement Program. He must be on alcohol monitoring tether for 365 days after he is done with KPEP.

The incident occurred July 30 when he was stopped after “mudding” or driving his truck through a pepper field at Smith Road and Michigan 140 in Berrien Township. His blood alcohol level was .198, more than three times the legal limit. Gilmer’s previous drunk driving sentences were in September 2002 and November 2006.

Pasula noted that Gilmer’s speech was slurred and his vehicle smelled of alcohol when he was stopped. She said his previous criminal history also included three prior marijuana related convictions.

Gilmer said he was sorry for the choices he made that day. “The people of Michigan deserve a safe place to drive,” he said. “I went eight years without getting into trouble. I’m truly trying to be a better person.”

Rodney William Kolberg, 40, of Hills Haven Road in Buchanan, pleaded guilty to attempted failure to register as a sex offender and was sentenced to three years probation, 120 days in jail and $1,258 in fines and costs.

He can spend the last 90 days of his jail sentence in the Kalamazoo Probation Enhancement Program. He must be on tether for 180 days after he completes the program.

The incident occurred June 19 when he moved without notification and registered a week late for the sex offender registry. He is on the registry after being convicted in March for fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct in Cass County.