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NILES — A Stevensville woman involved in the robbery of JD’s Truck Stop last December was sentenced to probation Monday in Berrien County Trial Court.

Her co-defendant, Todd Forker, Jr., was not sentenced as he refused to be transported from the jail to the Niles courthouse Monday.

      Gina Lee Stevens, 50, of Stevensville pleaded guilty to unarmed robbery and was sentenced to two years probation, credit for three days served, 100 hours of community service, $678 in fines and costs and $469.64 restitution.

      The incident occurred in the early morning hours of Dec. 21 at JD’s Truck Stop off of U.S. 12 in Bertrand Township. Stevens did not go into the building but drove the getaway car.

      Berrien County Trial Court Judge Gordon Hosbein said he ordered an extra 60 hours of community service above the 40 hours of community service originally recommended instead of giving Stevens 60 days in jail.

“I can always impose jail time later,” he said. “Since she is engaged in rehabilitation and is sober, I don’t want to set her back.”

      Defense attorney Kaitlin Locke said that Stevens hasn’t used drugs since the time of the incident, has taken substance abuse classes, undergone counseling and has had no issues while out on bond. Stevens has written a letter of apology to the store clerk who was robbed.

Locke said that Stevens got addicted to heroin after she had started taking medical marijuana to ease her pain.

“She was given heroin in 2022 and was immediately hooked,” Locke said. “She did this because she needed money to feed her addiction. There is no excuse for what she did and she knows it was wrong.”

“This is not normal behavior for her,” Locke added. “Now that she is sober, she feels completely different. I’m asking you to allow her to remain out of jail or hold it in abeyance so she can continue to prove she deserves a second chance.”

Stevens said she took full responsibility and accountability for her actions.

“I hate myself for what happened, I never wanted her (the clerk) to have to go through this,” she said. “I’m sorry, I want to continue to get better, I absolutely hate and despite drugs. I wish my pain didn’t exist.”

Judge Hosbein said that while Forker actually committed the robbery, Stevens had a role in the situation by driving the car.

“I’m glad that you’re sober, I hope you keep that up,” he said.

In other sentencings:

• Michael Joshua Aperans, 35, of Indiana, pleaded guilty to receiving, concealing or possession of stolen property over $1,000 and under $20,000 and was sentenced to two years probation, 365 days in jail with credit for eight days served and $798 in fines and costs. The jail term was held in abeyance until the end of the probation and could be suspended. The incident occurred Dec. 30, 2024 in Niles where he and other man stole a furnace from a vacant home.
• Caden Riley Paul, of Ohio, pleaded guilty to possession of a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle and was sentenced to 18 months probation under the Holmes Youthful Training Act, credit for two days served, 50 hours of community service and $618 in fines and costs. The incident occurred Jan. 16 in Galien.
• Robert Vannell Terry III, 31, of Indiana, pleaded guilty to possession of a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle and was sentenced to credit for 52 days served and $258 in fines and costs. The incident occurred Feb. 4 on the U.S. 31 freeway.
• Madison Lynn Word, of Niles, pleaded guilty to tampering with a tether device and was sentenced to 12 months probation, credit for three days served, $690 restitution for the cut tether and $658 in fines and costs. The incident occurred in October, 2022 in Niles.