By DEBRA HAIGHT

Niles Daily Star Contributor

A Niles man who was caught driving drunk and having a weapon in his car will be going to prison.

Mason Henderson Jr., 37, of North Fifth Street in Niles, pleaded no contest to possession of a weapon under the influence, a misdemeanor, and third offense drunk driving which is a felony.

He was sentenced to 93 days in jail with credit for 93 days served for the weapon charge, and a prison term of 14 months to five years for the drunk driving.

He has credit for no time served on the drunk driving charge as he was on parole in Indiana at the time of the incident. He also faces another felony charge in Indiana. His Michigan prison sentence is consecutive to what he faces in Indiana for violating his parole.

The incident occurred Aug. 13 near the intersection of 14th Street and Merrifield Avenue in Niles. His blood alcohol level was found to be .20, more than twice the legal limit. The handgun found in the car, a .357 Winchester, was forfeited. There were two 10-year-old children in the car at the time.

Judge Angela Pasula noted that Henderson has three previous jail sentences and five previous prison sentences.

“You don’t think the rules apply to you,” she said. “You’re a habitual traffic offender. You had forfeited your driver’s license. Why did you think it was OK to go out and operate a motor vehicle?”