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 NILES — Area residents were sentenced to jail and/or probation Monday in Berrien County Trial Court sentencings at the Niles courthouse.

Travis Dontrail Guntle Jr., 27, of Dowagiac, pleaded guilty to fleeing and eluding police and was sentenced to 365 days in jail with credit for 139 days already served and $198 in fines and costs.

      The incident occurred June 17, 2024 in Niles.

Guntle’s past record include Cass County sentences for assault with intent to commit second-degree criminal sexual conduct, possession of a weapon by a felony and resisting and obstructing police.

Berrien County Assistant Prosecutor Myrene Koch asked for the one year jail sentence, nothing that Guntle is on probation in Cass County and also has a warrant out for him from an Indiana case.

Defense attorney Daniel French said the current case came about because of the “dumb choice” Guntle made.

“His car had a loud exhaust and when the fight or flight impulse kicked in, he fled,” French said. “It was an offense that was definitely avoidable.”

“I know I was wrong, I don’t want to make excuses,” Guntle said. “I should have stopped, I can’t take it back, I should have taken responsibility from the beginning. I’m ready to put this behind me and get on with my life.”

Anthony Darnell Haynes, 29, pleaded guilty to carrying a concealed weapon and possession of a firearm/ammunition by a prohibited person and was sentenced to two concurrent terms of 270 days in jail with credit for 150 days already served. He must pay $266 in fines and costs.

The incident occurred Nov. 9, 2024 in Niles. His past record includes a 2021 conviction for carrying a concealed weapon and 2015 convictions for home invasion and breaking and entering.

French said Haynes knows he cannot possess a firearm and that these charges were ones he could have easily avoided. “He knows he needs to make better choices moving forward,” he said.

Haynes said he took full responsibility and accountability for his actions. “I have had time to reflect on my actions, weapons and court are not for me,” he said.