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 CASSOPOLIS — A Dowagiac man is going to prison after failing to complete probations for drug, theft and failure to pay child support convictions.

Louis Ureste Gutierrez, 54, of Dowagiac, was sentenced Friday in Cass County Circuit Court to prison terms on the probation violations from the drug and theft convictions and was given credit for time served in the child support case.

      Gutierrez was sentenced last October to three years probation for possession of methamphetamine and larceny in a building from 2023 incidents in Dowagiac and Friday had his probation revoked. He was sentenced to concurrent terms of 38 months to 20 years and 25 months to eight years in prison. He has credit for 171 days already served.

      He was also sentenced Friday on a probation violation from a 2022 conviction for failure to pay child support. He had his probation revoked and was given credit for 345 days already served.

      A representative from the Michigan Attorney General’s office noted that Gutierrez had never made a child support payment during his probation and has a current balance of over $57,000 being owed. She said that Gutierrez had had several opportunities to participate in programs and failed to take advantage of the opportunities given him.

      Gutierrez apologized to his family and to the people of Cass County for wasting their time and money. “Let’s get on with this so I can move on,” he said.

      Cass County Circuit Court Judge Mark Herman noted that Gutierrez had been given several opportunities on probation and had violated the probation terms including absconding.