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NILES — Two area residents were given jail sentences Monday in Berrien County Trial Court at the Niles courthouse Monday.

Samantha Williams, 39, of Niles, pleaded guilty to possession of fentanyl and was sentenced to nine months in jail with credit for 13 days served and $198 in fines and costs. She also was sentenced on a misdemeanor theft case and was given credit for time served and ordered to pay $845 in fines, costs and restitution.

      The incident occurred Dec. 4 in Niles.

      Defense attorney Carri Briseno said Williams has substance abuse issue, noting that her record includes convictions for drugs and theft where she stole items to support her drug habit. She said Williams has received medically assisted treatment in the jail and will go to counseling when she’s released.

      Williams acknowledged she has struggled with drugs over the years. “I know what I need to do to stay clean, I have to do it,” she said.

      “A lifestyle change is not easy,” Berrien County Trial Court Judge Gordon Hosbein said. “People want to quit but there’s no straight path. I hope you will use this time in jail.”

      Samuel Michael Friant, 27, of South Bend, pleaded guilty to carrying a concealed weapon and was sentenced to five months in jail and $198 on the weapon charge. The weapon, a knife, was forfeited.

He also pleaded guilty to receiving, concealing or possession of stolen property $1,000 to $20,000 and was sentenced to two years probation, 210 days in jail with credit for 63 days served and $468 in fines and costs on the stolen property charge.

      The incident occurred Dec. 30, 2024 in Niles Township.

      Assistant Prosecutor Jerry Vigansky said he was concerned that Friant was being set up for failure by being put on probation as he had had his probation revoked in the past.

      Briseno said Friant knows he needs to make changes. “We have talked about what he needs to do to turn his life around,” Briseno said. “He can turn his life around so he’s not stuck with him forever. He’s been embracing that. He’s going to be living with his mother and she’s not going to tolerate misbehavior.”

      “The purpose of a sentencing is both personal rehabilitation and retribution,” Judge Hosbein said. “Here, you will have up front jail and then probation. I will give you another shot at probation.”

      In other sentencings:

• Joseph Michael Bobik, Jr., 27, of Niles, pleaded guilty to possession of meth and possession of LSD and was sentenced to two years probation, credit for three days served and $726 in fines and costs. The incident occurred Nov. 16, 2024 in Niles.
• Brittany Lee Mitchell, 29, of Niles, pleaded guilty to attempted possession of a taser and was sentenced to credit for four days served, 50 hours of community service, forfeiture of the taser and $278 in fines and costs.. The incident occurred Sept. 24, 2024 in Niles.
• Jocelyn Frances Roberts, 19, of Niles, pleaded guilty to possession of a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle and was sentenced to credit for 39 days served and $598 in fines and costs. The incident occurred July 16, 2024 in Niles.