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CASSOPOLIS — An Edwardsburg woman whose husband is in prison in Indiana on drug and weapon charges was sentenced to probation Friday for drug charges.

      Karen Lynn Williams, 51, of Edwardsburg, pleaded guilty to maintaining a drug house and possession of methamphetamine and was sentenced to two years probation, credit for two days served and $3,896 in fines and costs.

      The incident occurred May 21, 2024 in Edwardsburg when members of the Southwest Michigan Drug Enforcement Team raided her home in Edwardsburg and found over a pound of meth, scales, $1,100 in cash and ammunition. Williams’ husband was not at home and had been arrested in Indiana.

      While Williams maintained that while she knew her husband was using drugs, she didn’t know he was dealing drugs.

“The day the police came was the first time the drugs were in plain sight,” she said. “I’m guilty of knowing he used drugs but not of knowing he delivered.”

Cass County Circuit Court Judge Mark Herman noted that the prosecutor’s office could have easily gotten convictions for drug dealing for her if the case had gone to trial. Williams would likely have received a prison sentence if that had happened.

“You say you stay out of his business, you need to be in his business., drugs are something that could see you go to prison,” he said.

“Even if you didn’t know he was dealing, you could suspect that at one point the police would show up,” the judge said. “You knew drugs were in the house, maybe not the amount. You’re 51 years old, not some young stupid kid not knowing what’s going on.”

“It’s preposterous for you to expect me to believe that,” he added. “Maybe it’s true, but I’m not that naive. It’s one thing to bury your head in the sand, it’s another thing to expect others to believe you knew nothing.”

A Dowagiac man is getting the chance to keep a felony drug charge off his record.

      Chad Leland Velthouse, 42, of Dowagiac, pleaded guilty to possession of narcotics/cocaine less than 25 grams and was sentenced to two years probation, credit for two days served and $2,828 in fines and costs.

      The incident occurred March 30, 2022 in Dowagiac. A police search of his home found baggies, cocaine and a scale.

      Judge Herman noted that this was Velthouse’s first conviction, that it occurred nearly three years ago and he hasn’t been in trouble since. He told Velthouse take advantage of the opportunity to keep the charge off his record.