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NILES — A South Bend man who stole a motorcycle and then fled from police last August was sentenced to prison Friday in sentencings in Berrien County Trial Court at the Niles courthouse.

Tomas Herrera Biers, 44, of South Bend, pleaded guilty to third degree fleeing and eluding police, receiving, concealing or possession of a stolen motor vehicle and resisting and obstructing police and was sentenced to concurrent terms of 18 months to five years, 18 months to two years and 24 months to five years. He has credit for 20 days served and must pay $394 in fines and costs.

      The incident occurred Aug. 2, 2024 in Niles. Biers stole a motorcycle and then fled from police, going up to 70 miles per hour on city streets.

      Assistant Prosecutor Myrene Koch said that Biers’ actions posed a very serious risk to the community not only because of the high speeds but also because a firearm fell out of a saddlebag on the motorcycle. A member of the public found the weapon and turned it over to police.

      Defense attorney Dan French agreed that it was a dangerous situation for everyone involved.

For his part, Biers said that he had not realized there was a weapon in the saddlebag. He said he fled because he was scared. “I made a mistake, I should never had gotten on the bike,” he said. “I ask for any sentence besides prison. I’m on the straight and narrow now. This was a mistake that will never happen again.”

“Some people can afford to make mistakes but with your history you can’t do that,” Berrien County Trial Court Judge Gordon Hosbein said. “The guidelines leave me no choice. I don’t find any substantial or compelling reason to deviate above or below the guidelines.”

Two other area residents received jail sentences Friday.

Taylor Scott Sartin, 32, of Mishawaka, pleaded guilty to use of meth, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person and possession of analogues and was sentenced to concurrent terms of 270 days in jail. He has credit for 70 days served and must pay $316 in fines and costs.

The incident occurred March 22.

Sartin’s attorney said Sartin had alcohol and meth addictions and had fallen off the wagon. He said Sartin is trying to get himself sober and get more intensive treatment.

Judge Hosbein noted that Sartin was on probation at the time of the offense and questioned why he hadn’t asked for help from his probation officer. “The fact that you were on probation makes it inappropriate for me to put you back on probation,” he said.

Vada Jolyn Wadsworth, 25, of Niles, pleaded guilty to domestic violence, use of meth, breaking and entering-illegal entry and attempted resisting and obstructing police and was sentenced to 365 days in jail with credit for 96 days served. She must pay a total of $425 in fines and costs.

The incidents occurred Nov. 1 and Dec. 31 in Niles.

Wadsworth’s mother spoke before the sentencing and said she was scared of the path her daughter is going down and the safety of Wadsworth’s child.

French said Wadsworth regrets her actions. “The common thread is meth, she has had periods of sobriety,” he said. “I’m not sure that straight jail is the answer.”

Judge Hosbein said that the charges were serious and that Wadsworth had had the benefit of felony charges being reduced to misdemeanors. “I’m not sure what is going to get through to you,” he said. “You’ve been on probation before and you have pending charges.”

“You’re 25 years old and your history goes back to when you were a juvenile,” the judge added. “You’ve been given services. You did well on probation but then you went back to the same behaviors and it’s escalated. You’re stealing from homes and resisting police. I don’t know what else we can do for you.”