NILES — A Mishawaka man who was charged with delivering and manufacturing meth was sentenced to prison for the crime Monday in Berrien County Trial Court.

Kirk Arwood, 57, pleaded guilty to the charge Jan. 23.

Judge Charles LaSata sentenced him to a minimum of 10 to a maximum of 20 years in a Michigan state prison.

The incident leading to his arrest occurred on Oct. 17 when police caught Arwood dealing meth at the Oak Dairy Party Store in Niles Township, according to court records.

Arwood asked LaSata for mercy, stating that he is supposed to be married in October.

But LaSata said those plans were not going to happen.

“You are a drug dealer,” LaSata said. “You try to peddle your poison of methamphetamine in the state of Michigan, you go to prison for a long time.”

Arwood has credit for two days served in jail.

In another sentencing, a Florida man who broke into a Niles Township resident’s home and stole a weapon got jail time for the crime.

Luke Valaar Grice, 19, was charged with second-degree home invasion and larceny in a building. He pleaded guilty to the crimes on Feb. 6.

For the first charge, LaSata sentenced him to serve 210 days in jail, three years of felony probation and $3,130.17 in restitution. He was also sentenced to 210 days in jail for the second charge. The sentences will run concurrently. Grice must also complete drug treatment court and KPEP. 

Two incidents led to the criminal charges. The first occurred on Sept. 4, when Grice was visiting someone at 703 Hickory Street and left after stealing prescription medication. The second incident occurred on Sept. 5, when the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department was dispatched to 2023 Lewis Dr. in Niles Township for a home invasion. The victim said he had left for work in the morning and when they returned, they noticed a broken window on the rear of his residence. A safe inside their home had been ransacked and a Smith and Wesson revolver was missing. Grice’s fingerprint was found at the scene of the crime.

During court Monday, the victim said the incident had left him shaken and afraid.

“This is a violation like I have never felt before in my life,” he said. “The fear that followed in the ensuing days of not knowing who was out there with the weapon they took from my home and if they would come back.”

Grice was represented in court by defense attorney Paul Jancha, who said his client was wrestling with drug addiction when he committed the crime and now had an opportunity to heal.

“Truthfully, he was one foot in the grave,” he said. “He is 19 years old. He could have died from drug use at that time, or he could have easily been shot. The opportunity that has been set forward for him is remarkable.”

Jancha recommended that the judge sentence him to a drug treatment program that would give him the tools to recover from his addiction and have a productive life.

LaSata said it takes a long time for a home invasion victim to recover.

“I take home invasions very seriously,” LaSata said. “Because people never feel quite the same in their home.”

Grice has credit for 127 days served.