A man who a Cass County judge called “lucky” will spend the next few years of his life on probation.

On Friday, Cass County Circuit Court Judge Mark Herman sentenced Ricky Dean Oliver, 54, of Union, to four three-year probation terms, which will run concurrently.

As part of his probation, Oliver was sentenced to one year in Cass County Jail, with credit for 382 days already served.

The charges for which Oliver was sentenced include: possession of methamphetamine, receiving and concealing stolen property, possession of marijuana and unlawfully driving away an automobile.

Oliver, a military veteran, pled guilty to the charges in a Feb. 24 court appearance. As part of his plea agreement, Oliver has agreed to cooperate with law enforcement on a number of other investigations.

The charges stem from an incident which occurred on Oct. 11, 2016, in Porter Township, according to the presentencing investigation. Oliver stole a pickup truck and took it to his home. Once police officers came to Oliver’s home, he and his son attempted to flee the scene, but were arrested. In Oliver’s home, police found a number of stolen items including multiple vehicles, a utility box and a power washer.

In the stolen truck was a bottle of prescription drugs. Oliver had taken four of the pills, telling police officers he suffered from back pain.

Once they obtained a search warrant, the police searched Oliver’s property, finding drug paraphernalia including marijuana and a pipe containing meth residue. Police also found a wallet containing identification of several other individuals.

During the investigation, Oliver revealed a number of other crimes he had committed, including the theft of a table saw, chain saw, rifle and dune buggy, as well as breaking and entering.

“You are 54 years old, and you are the poster child for the negative effect of what methamphetamine can do to someone in our society,” Herman said to Oliver during sentencing.

Despite having served in the Army and earning a bachelor’s degree, Oliver’s case file illustrates the damaging effects of substance abuse, Herman said.

Oliver has a history of early alcohol abuse and a history of drug use dating back at least to 2003. He has already served a lengthy sentence for drug dealing, according to his file.

“Drugs basically turned you into a one-man crime wave,” Herman said. “Illegal drugs have ruined your life.”

At sentencing, Herman told Oliver that he was prepared to sentence him to another lengthy prison sentence, but that Oliver was accepted into the Swift and Sure Probation Sanctions program. Oliver should consider himself lucky to have this chance with the program, Herman said.

The Swift and Sure program places Oliver on probation with the stipulation that if he does not successfully complete the program, he will go to prison. The program requires close monitoring as well as frequent drug and alcohol tests.

“You need to focus on receiving substance abuse treatment if you are going to affect any positive change in your life,” Herman told Oliver before adjuring his sentencing.