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NILES — A Niles man is headed to prison after being sentenced Monday on drug and other charges in Berrien County Trial Court at the Niles courthouse.

John Raymond Patterson, 59, of Niles, pleaded guilty to second offense possession of methamphetamine and tampering with evidence and was sentenced to concurrent terms of three years to 20 years in prison and 30 months to 10 years in prison. He must pay $266 in fines and costs.

      The two sentences will be consecutive to any sentence he gets for violating his parole from a 2021 conviction for delivery/manufacture of marijuana. He was released on parole on Jan. 9, 2024.

      This incident occurred Nov. 30 in Niles Township. He tampered with evidence by trying to chew and swallow the meth in his possession. He was found with over 85 grams of meth.

      Defense attorney Shayne Williams said that Patterson has a number of health problems including heart issues, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder and asthma. She said Patterson is ready to change his life.

      For his part, Patterson said that words could not describe the regret he feels. “The choices I made have been atrocious,” he said. “I have accepted my failures and forgiven myself.”

      Berrien County Trial Court Judge Gordon Hosbein said that the Michigan Department of Corrections will have services Patterson can engage in. “You have a chance to change the cycle and come out of prison a better person,” he said.