By Debra Haight

Special to Leader Publications

A Niles homeless man who had been living in a downtown Niles dumpster has been sentenced to jail after attempting to stalk an ex-girlfriend.

Marty Ray Gipson, 45, of Niles, pleaded guilty to attempted aggravated stalking and was sentenced Monday in Berrien County Trial Court to 210 days in jail with credit for 72 days already served. He can serve the sentence in any penal institution.

The incident occurred March 8 when he was seen outside the Niles Quality Inn, where the woman was working. He was confronted by a hotel clerk and threatened the man with a knife.

Gipson was originally charged with assault with a dangerous weapon as a habitual offender.

Gipson is already serving a 365-day jail term in Cass County, where he was sentenced for a probation violation last week. That sentence was for violating his probation from Feb. 24 convictions for resisting and obstructing police and two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon when he threatened his girlfriend and police with a machete.

Back in February, he said he was retiring from criminal activity and vowed to not be back in court again.

Monday, Gipson apologized for his actions in March at the Niles Quality Inn, as well as the Cass County incident, where he said he had been trying to commit “suicide by cop”.

“I want to get on with my life,” Gipson said.

Berrien County Trial Judge Angela Pasula said Gipson had to be held accountable for his actions and said she saw no point in putting him on probation.

“There’s absolutely no point in putting you on probation but you need to be held accountable,” Pasula said.

Pasula noted that Gipson has an extensive criminal record. He has seven misdemeanors and 13 felony convictions on his record. He has been to jail nine times and to prison three times. He has been on probation four times and had it revoked three times.