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NILES — Area residents were sentenced for drug, weapon and theft offenses Monday in Berrien County Trial Court.

      Jaylin Marquis Moss, 19, of South Bend, pleaded guilty to carrying a concealed weapon and was sentenced to two years probation under the Holmes Youthful Training Act, credit for 45 days served and $598 in fines and costs. If he is successful on probation, he can keep the charge off his record.

      The incident occurred Jan. 27 in Niles Township.

      Defense attorney Jason Engram said that Moss had only one juvenile adjudication before this incident. “He is a good candidate for HYTA, he’s been in jail for 45 days and has not enjoyed it,” he said.

      Moss apologized to the court for wasting everyone’s time.

      Donald Wayne Reed, 61, of Niles, pleaded guilty to use of a financial transaction device and was sentenced to credit for four days served and $198 in fines and costs. Restitution will be determined at a July 24 hearing.

      The incident occurred Feb. 28 in Niles Township. A companion charge of larceny in a building was dismissed.

      Defense attorney Dan French argued unsuccessfully to allow Reed to withdraw his plea. French said that Reed didn’t realize that the restitution of $27,000 was being requested. He added that his client is in poor health.

      Berrien County Trial Court Judge Gordon Hosbein said French had not shown good cause to withdraw the plea and that Reed had agreed to pay restitution.

      Jacob Michael Winings, 26, of Edwardsburg, pleaded guilty to possession of a loaded firearm and was sentenced to $218 in fines and costs and 40 hours of community service.

      The incident occurred April 9 in Niles Township.

Winings called his actions a “big dumb childish mistake” that he should never had done. He noted that he lost his job as a welder because of the incident.

      Evan Michael Zacharski, 29, of Niles, pleaded guilty to carrying a concealed weapon and was sentenced to 18 months probation, credit for two days served, weapon forfeited and $658 in fines and costs. He also was sentenced to credit for two days served and $50 for use of meth.

      The incident occurred April 16 in Niles.

      French said that Zacharski carried a weapon for self defense. He added that his client had lived in Indiana previously and didn’t under the different laws in the two states relative to firearms.